Selected quad for the lemma: order_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
order_n	day_n	great_a	time_n	3,904	5	3.2951	3	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A76750	The Cry of blood. And Herod, Pontius Pilate, and the Jewes reconciled, and in conspiracy with the dragon, to devour the manchild. Being a declaration of the Lord arising in those people, of the city of Bristol, who are scornfully called Quakers, and of the manifold sufferings, and persecutions sustain'd by them from the priests, rulers, professors and rude multitude, contrary to law, liberty, justice, government, the righteous ends of of the wars, and the Scriptures of truth. Together with a true account of the material passages in substance between the rulers and them at their several examinations, and commitments, and at two general sessions of the publick peace: and of the tumults, and insurrections, with other necessary observations, and occurences. Gathered up, written in a roll, and delivered to John Gunning late mayor of that city (being the fruits of his year) for the private admonition, and conviction of himself, and brethren concern'd, and named therein: with a letter declaring the end, and reason of what is so done, (of which a copy followes in the ensuing pages) / Subscribed by Geo: Bishop, Thomas Goldney, Henry Roe, Edw: Pyott, Dennis Hollister. And now after five moneths space of time published, for the reasons hereafter expressed.	Bishop, George, d. 1668.	1656 (1656)	Wing B2990; Thomason E884_3; ESTC R27277	101,853	169

up the Prophets of Baal to be cut off by the people whom they have deceived And the Lord will Malach. 2. 9 1. 2 2. make them contemptible and base before all the people according as they have not kept his wayes but have been partiall in the Law And now O ye Priests this Commandment is for you If you will not hear and if you will not lay it to heart to give glory unto my Name saith the Lord of Hosts I will even send a Curse upon you and I will curse your blessings yea I have cursed them already because ye do not lay them to heart Behold I will corrupt your seed and spread dung upon your faces even the dung of your solemn feasts and one shall take you away with it And ye shall know that I have sent this Commandment unto you Order of Sessions That the Constables do once in every fortnight make diligent search within their severall Wards for all strangers Inmates and suspitious persons and to present their names and those who entertain them within two dayes following to the Mayor and Justices to the end such course may be taken with them as is agreeable to Law Reply Had what the Law requires of them in this particular been effectually executed the Town had not been so full of persons who ought to be enquired after as it is at this day But all lyes asleep in this particular till the hopes to catch the Messengers of truth and to keep the Town clear of such awakened their blind zeal as another expedient to effect their ends upon those servants of the Lord But it s fallen asleep again since it hath not proved a snare to catch the Innocent Order of Sessions That all people do take special notice and be hereby forwarned not to be present at any tumult or other unlawfull Assembly or on any pretence to assemble or gather into Companies or multitudes into the streets or elsewhere or to conduct and follow offenders either to the Magistrates houses or other places of Justice unlesse they be thereunto lawfully called And the Constables and all other publique Officers are hereby required to apprehend and arrest all such boyes and Apprentices and other people that shall assemble or gather together as aforesaid And to bring them before the Magistrates to be punished according to the Law Reply Lesse then this they could not do in colour of Justice but whether they meant any such thing will appear in that they never to this day have punished one offender although Hundreds at a time have transgressed therein and that before their faces and at their very doors as the instances hereafter to be mentioned will demonstrate Nor hath a Constable discharged his duty therein required But it seems these Magistrates Constables and people know one anothers minds well enough in this thing and can agree together in injuring the Innocent though their orders seem to speak the contrary Preamble to the Orders of Sessions aforementioned And the ground of all these Orders is premised to be several great Tumults and unlawfull Assemblies lately hapned and arisen within this City as well on the Lords dayes as at other times and as the Court is informed upon pretence or occasions that some disturbed the Congregations and Ministers both before and after the Publique Exercises in the Churches have been fully concluded And likewise by the comming of strangers to the City who can render no good accompt of their being here whereby the Lords day hath been much prophaned the Inhabitants greatly affrighted and the Publick Peace safety and welfare of the City very much endangered to be broken and disturbed which the Court taking into serious consideration and well weighing the manifold mischiefs and sad effects which may grow thereupon did Order c. Signed Aldworth And Ordered by John Gunning Mayor John Lock Richard Vickers William Cann Joseph Jackson Henry Gibbs and George Hellier Aldermen Reply 'T is well we have got the Confession of the Bench under hands that those afore mentioned were great Tumults and unlawful Assemblies prophaning the Lords day greatly affrighting the Inhabitants endangering the disturbance of the Publick Peace safety and welfare of the City whereupon manifold mischiefs may grow and sad effects And ought not such a great Tumult and unlawful Assemblies to have been strictly enquired after and severely punished Ought they not to have been discountenanced and supprest Hath any Master or Servant Officer or Inhabitant been called to accompt and punished for them according to the Law to this day though hundreds have oft times appeared and acted them before their eys When a friend of the Common-wealth was called before the Mayor and Aldermen upon information of some words which was said he should hear one of the Apprentices to say and sworn before them to speak the truth was what he informed them upon his Oath to this effect viz. That the said Apprentice being asked how the Apprentices could be so bold to rise as they had done and be so long from their Masters businesse unless they had leave from their Masters or some other encouragement He heard him say they had leave from their Masters and were encouraged for that Alderman Hellier came into them whilest they were at the Tolzey and said that he would dye rather then any of the Apprentices should go to Prison which he offered to prove further by two of his servants Committed to writing and prosecuted according to the concernment every way of a thing of that nature Or did not the Mayor forbid the Clark to write and took he not under his hand only what he could not say viz. That he heard the said Apprentice to speak that they had 400 horse in the Town ready for the King Hath it not lay husht to this day But Henry Davis a friend to the Common-wealth he and his brethren Committed to Newgate and continued him a Prisoner from the 20th of the 10th month 1654. to the 16th of the 11th month following being the next Sessions for that upon his hearing in his shop in the High street at the hight of the Ryot Decemb. 20. aforesaid when the Proclamation was read at the High Crosse in the name of the Lord Protector requiring every one to depart these words spoken by some of the Royters who then filled that part of the street viz. What do you tell us of a Protector tell us of King Charls He immediatly gave notice thereof to the Officers of the Garrison and not to them some of them telling him he had committed Treason in so doing And James Hill another friend to the Common-wealth they bound over at the same time to answer at the Sessions for speaking the words so heard as aforesaid Do ye not stand guilty O ye Rulers of the tumults disorders aforesaid in the eye of the Law and amongst all wise men shall it be said in not enquiring after in not suppressing in not correcting nay in encouraging

Lord's Justices said the Maior He replyed If you be the Lords Justices I am Whereupon one of the Aldermen said without any more words passing at that time aforesaid for they asked him no other question but what is already mentioned or the least signification of the reason of their sending for him We see what he is take him Committed away to Newgate and commanded the Officer to carry him away and so he was immediately brought thither where the Keeper received him without a Mittimus and kept him close prisoner a great part of that time permitting none to come to him but his Wife for which he said he had order from the Maior On the second day of the second moneth he was sent for from prison before them again and stood before them in the Councell-house as they required where he standing a while they bade him go forth saying not a word more to him Hereupon he went forth and stood at the door then he was bid to go down and by and by the Sword-Bearer brought order from the Magistrates to carry him to prison again Out of which that evening he was released having been kept there for the space of 19. dayes from his Calling and a close prisoner a great part of the time and at no time did they then or have they to this day signified to him the cause of their sending for him or of his Commitment though his Wife desired it of the Maior who refused so to do the man being of a very sober and honest Conversation and alwaies a friend to the Common-wealth Sara Goldsmith being moved to put on a Coat of Sarah Goldsmith 5th day 3d. moneth 1655. going through the Town in a Coat of hair Sackcloth of hair next her to uncover her head and to put earth thereon with her hair hanging down about her and without any other clothes upon her except shoes on her feet and in that manner to go to every Gate and through every Street within the Walls of the City and afterwards to stand at the High Crosse in the view of the Town and Market as a sign against the Pride of Bristol and to abide in that habit so the space of seven daies In obedience whereunto though very crosse to her own will she chearfully prepared her Garment being in the manner of a Coat down to the ground And on the day appointed her being the last day of the week and the fifth day of the third moneth taking with her two friends to accompany her went forth about the fourth hour in the morning and having finished her going to the Gates and thorough the Streets some People following of them but doing them no harm she returned home and at the ninth hour came to the High Crosse with one of the friends aforementioned a great multitude following and there stood for the space of half an hour till the tumult which consisted of many hundreds grew so violent and assaulted so much her self and friend who stood with her that they were enforced thorough the help of some whom they knew not but were made friendly to repair to a shop near out of which the multitude cryed to have them thrown that they might assault them but the Chamberlaine with some of the Sergeants came and brought them thence to the Councel-house out of respect as he said to their safety from the Tumult which filled the Streets thereabouts When they had been a little while in the inner Tolzey the Maior came in and Joseph Jackson who stampt with his foot and grew much enraged and furious as soon as he saw her but the Maior called Sara to him and asked Examined her what was her reason to appear in the City in such a habit She answered It was in obedience to the light in her Conscience What if you said the Maior in your obedience had been killed by the rude multitude She replyed I am in the hands of him who ruleth all things I have harmed none yet I have been harmed Neither have I broken any Law by which I can be brought under any censure Then Joseph Jackson demanded of her the same question that the Maior did concerning her habit She only replyed I have said Say it over again said he She answered thou heardst me But I have forgot it said he The replyed I stand not in mine own will Whereupon some said she was mad To which the friend answered I bear witnesse she is not mad Look here 's one said Joseph Jackson bears witnesse Sara replyed she bears witnesse I am not mad If I had appeared in Gay clothing then you would not have been troubled which were all the words then spoken by her Then Joseph Jackson furiously demanded of her friend what her name was She gave it to him Then he asked her how long she had been with Sara She stood silent He demanded of her why she came up in the City with Sara She replyed because Sara was her friend Do you own her said he She answered I do own her VVherefore said he came she in this habit She replyed There she was she was sufficient to answer for her self and said no more Then the Maior at the instigation of Joseph Jackson for the Maior was advising how he might send Sara home safely ordered them to be sent to Bridewell and seeing Anne the wife of Nicholas Gannecliffe standing by Joseph Jackson demanded of her whether she owned Sara To which Anne answered yea I own her to be a servant of the living God and as the Scripture saith I and the Children whom thou hast given me are for signs and Wonders so behold she is as a sign a wonder to you this day Then Joseph Jackson said Take her away to prison too She lives said the Maior without the Liberties of the City Send her away notwithstanding said he Then Sara told them That Anne had not been with her but coming to Market upon her occasions and seeing the Tumult about her came to her which was the truth notwithstanding all three were Anne Gannicliffe Margaret Wood for being with owning her Committed sent to Bridewell the Tumult who standing in great numbers before the Councel house all the while the Maior examined them following them thither where by Order of the Maior as the Keeper said were they kept close prisoners so strict that no friends were permitted to come to them nay their Husbands were sometimes denyed and the Mother of the friend and their Servants who brought them provisions and when any of them had admittance it was with very much ado and after long waiting till Nicholas Gannercloffe brought witnesses and demanded before them his wife of the Keeper who denyed to release her or to give him the reason of her being there detained and only said it was by the Maiors Order nor would the Keeper permit them the first night to light a Candle or to make any fire till about noon the next day

killed the Prophets And therefore he said unto them Woe be unto you ye Serpents ye generation of Vipers how can ye escape the damnation of Hell Wherefore behold I send unto you Prophets and wise men and Scribes and some of them ye shall kill and crucifie And some of them shall ye scourge in your Synagogues and persecute them from City to City that upon you may come all the righteous blood shed upon the earth from the blood of righteous Abel unto the blood of Zacharias the sonne of Barachias whom ye slew between the Temple and the Altar Verily I say unto you All these things shall come upon this generation Matth. 23. from 29. to 37. Even so That i John 1 1 2 3 eternal word of life which the Apostles heard and saw with their eyes and looked upon and handled with their hands and bare witnesse unto with the Saints in their time as that which was with the Father from the beginning and manifested unto them k John 16. 13. Acts 15. 28. leading them into all truth for declaring of which and walking therein as the spirit not the form for there was no letter for much of what they did moved and l Acts 2. 4. gave them utterance they were persecuted put to death as the vilest of men and the off-scowring of all things by those who were called the devout and honourable and the Rulers and the people of the Jews who stood in the letter and in the form of those things which were once commanded of God but then abolished by the coming of Christ whom none of the m 1 Cor. 2. 6 8. Princes of the world knew for if they had they would not have crucified the Lord of glory being at least much of it committed to writing and handed with the rest of the Scriptures of truth to these later times the people of this generation embrace the declaration thereof Crying out against the Jews for persecuting and killing the Prophets and Apostles and crucifying of Christ after whose name they call themselves in whose doctrine and worship and in the fellowship and order of the Apostles and the Churches of the the Saints in their times they pretend to abide and for it and the Scriptures wherein they are recorded are they zealous even to blood though not according to knowledge as these later dayes have sadly witnessed And yet those who in this day of the Lords appearing do witnesse the Prophets and Apostles and their doctrine and Christ Jesus and the Scriptures and what is said therein of the Saints and their conditions in life and power in spirit and letter do receive from those who pretend to them all and to the Scriptures and yet are not so much as in the letter or form of doctrine declared therein the very same measure of reproach and persecution as did the Prophets and Christ Jesus and the Apostles and the Saints of which the Scriptures testifie read the one and compare the other therewith and judge though as to blood they have not as yet reached further than of those in other parts of this Nation who are dead in prison and of the blowes they have received And of others who by beatings have had their blood drawn even in the Steeple-houses as well as other places and mingled with their sacrifices of which this City giveth instances because the Lord who saith unto the raging Sea Hitherto shall thy proud waves go and no further hath bounded them by his power but they who contrary to Law and Justice and to that liberty which hath been allowed themselves and to the Scriptures which they would be understood to own and to be ruled by have proceeded so far and with so high a rage as this following Treatise to say nothing of what hath been acted in other parts of this Nation doth make to appear What cruelties would they not exceed in all former times had they Law for it or power in their hands And how doth this Generation manifest themselves hereby to be in the same spirit with those and in their steps which persecuted and killed the Prophets and Christ Jesus Luke 11. 49. and the Apostles and the witnesses of truth to this day filling up the measure of their fathers iniquity Wherefore the wisdom of God hath and will raise up his cloud of witnesses whom they do devise wicked devices against and dig as low as hell and imprison and persecute from City to City and from County to County and execute cruelties upon That all the blood of the Righteous shed since the foundation of the world may come upon them And venily it shall be required of this generation The Cry of Blood c. MAny of the people of God in and about the City of Bristoll as in divers other parts of this Nation having a long time wandred from mountain to hill from one from to another seeking rest but finding none and divers receiving no satisfaction from the Forms in which they walked and wherein they did abide in expectation of the glorious appearing of the Lord Jesus in spirit and power according to the Scriptures It hath pleased the Lord whom they sought at length to hasten to his Temple and out of his tender mercies to visite them with the day-spring from on high and not only them but many others who sate in darknesse and in the shadow of death thorough the everlasting Gospel of his dear Son Which though hid from ages and generations for many hundreds of years yet he hath now begun to make manifest with mighty power in the hearts and by the ministration of many whom he hath raised up to declare and publish the same and to bear witnesse to his great and terrible day approaching upon the Inhabitants of the earth And to the redeeming of his Sion with Judgment and her Converts with righteousnesse Unto which thousands of pretious Saints in this Nation and many hundreds in and about this place who are turned by the power thereof from darknesse to light and from the Kingdom of Satan unto God having born their testimony and set to their seals the Devil is come down with great wrath knowing his time is short and stirs up the beast and the false Prophet the Rulers of the earth and the Merchants of Babylon to make war against it with a rage reaching up to Heaven But the Lamb even him who rides upon the white horse the Word of God who is called Faithful and true and in righteousnesse doth judge and make war out of whose mouth goeth a sharp sword with which he sha●● smite the Nations and rule them with a rod of iron on whose vesture dipt in blood and thigh is written King of Kings and Lord of Lords having all the Armies of Heaven following him on white horses shall overcome and have the victory for his Kingdome is an everlasting Kingdom and his Dominion is for ever and ever And the beast shall be taken and

11th moneth at which time a Liberate was sent the Jaylor signed Aldworth and witnessed John Gunning Mayor Dated Jan 19. 1654. requiring him to set at Liberty the body of John Warren in that he had found Sureties f●r his being of the good behaviour Whereupon the Keeper would have put him forth But he perceiving the deceit thereby to confess himself an offender and so to give away the innocency of his cause and to administer matter of reproach to the truth and to himself having neither sought Sureties nor found any denyed to go forth thereupon then the Officer would have put him out by force But he desiring a little time to consider wrote a note to the Town Clark and sent it to him in these words Robert Aldworth A Liberate was delivered me His Letter to the Town Clark just now by John Roach the Jaylor for my enlargment out of prison which when I had read over I found that the cause thereof is expressed in these words For that he hath found Sureties for his being of the good behaviour which I cannot accept of in regard that I have not misbehaved myself but have delivered that Message to one that said he scorned the name of a Minister for which I have a Warrant within And because of the not●rious untruth therein mentioned that I have found Sureties for my being of the good behaviour when as I neither directly or indirectly have sought for or found any Sureties for any such thing nor can I and therefore cannot accept of my freedom upon any such Warrant But do protest against it John Worring Notwithstanding he was the same day turned out of the Prison against which upon account of of the Liberate aforesaid he protested when by force he was put out The meek and sober carriage of these prisoners at the Sessions and their not seeking revenge on those who abused and struck them was such as did tenderly take with many who were present and heard the proceeding● An lastly This Sessions endeth not in enquiring Sessions ending after and punishing exemplarily according to Law those Tumults Ryots and Insurrections and other outrages and breaches of the Publick Peace aforementioned which had Judgement been put to the Line and Righteousnesse to the Plummet and Order and Government been respected would have been executed for not so much as one man hath therefore been punished to this day But in the four Orders following which they appoint to be read in all Churches as they call them Order of Sessions That no person or persons do hereafter presume to molest trouble or otherwise disquiet any Minister or Congregation either before or after the Publick exercises be ended And if any person or persons do so offend that in all such cases the Constables or any other Officers shall apprehend take and arrest the Party and Parties so offending and bring him or them before the Mayor and some other Justice of the Peace who are to take care that such offender or offenders be bound with sufficient Sureties to appear at the next General Sessions And in the mean while to be of the good behaviour and for not sinding some Sureties as aforesaid to commit them to Prison Reply The Statute 1 Mary to which they pretend to Justifie their Imprisonments as aforesaid were it in force or fit to be made practicable onely provides for the defence of the Popish Priest during the time of his Masse and Service but for before and after the Masse and Service makes no provision nor for disturbing or troubling as they call it the Congregation at all But these Magistrates having imprisoned and returned again to prison persons for speaking after the Congregation was dismist to Justifie their proceedings and to oppresse the Servants of the Lord for the future turn Legislators and make a Law where the Nation hath made none And enjoyn one another and all Officers to put it in execution viz. That none presume to molest or trouble or otherwise disquiet the Congregation as well as the Minister before and after as well as in the time of publique Exercise And if any do so offend that in all such cases the Officers shall apprehend take and arrest them and bring them before the Maior or some other Justice of the Peace who are to bind them with sufficient Sureties to appear at the next general Sessions and in the mean while to be of the good behaviour And for not finding such Sureties to commit them to prison When as all Lawes made by any Corporation for imprisonment of any mans person are invalid because against the Fundamentall Lawes of this Nation which also provideth That no Law be made or of force or binding but by the common consent of the People in Parliament which is so absolute and an essentiall a right that the encroachments of the late King and his Ministers of State thereupon occasioned the levying of the late defensive Wars by the Parliament And the late King with others his Ministers were therefore executed and abundance of blood shed and miseries sustained not yet to be forgotten And now that the Wars are ended and this Fundamental Right fully vindicated in the behalf of the Nation And the present Government hath provided the same with the Fundamentall Lawes Art 6. Except in some cases See the Government Art 6. Art 30. in point of Necessity expressed Art 30. till the sitting of the then next Parliament In which the single Person and his Councell have power to make Ordinances These Magistrates who endeavoured what lay in them to subvert and destroy it in behalf of the late King for whom the generality of them were in principle affection and action and are not afraid to presume to take upon them this Supream Legislative Authority over the Citizens and Inhabitants of Bristol who have been active for and faithfull to that Interest as any in that City and have adventured their bloods and their all in its behalf and who are of as godly peaceable and unblameable Conversation as any within that Jurisdiction And not onely over them do they thus usurp it but over all Englishmen who come in that City Nor is it in things of a triviall nature that they are thus bold to Legislate it but in matters relating to Conscience and Religion and to the Commands of God In which to have freedom and Liberty hath been a principall end in those honest men who have engaged in the late Wars and which hath been carried thorough the many and high Contests thereabouts in the late Parliaments And is provided for in the present Government And that they may be sure to hit those honest people against whom their malice rageth both upon the accompt of Civill and Spirituall interests they not onely make Law as aforesaid but become Judges of the Law themselves make Whereas the Administrators of Justice are sworn to execute the Lawes made by the Supream Legislative Authority not to make any Those who are

it on them and would have taken away their lives But no more of these Orders of Sessions and the grounds of them though much materially may be said which is not yet mentioned We shall now proceed to instance what hath been since acted in observance of these Decrees These publique proceedings in Sessions somewhat 18th 11th month 1654. The Deputy-Mayor and his brethren comming together by Candle-light and sending for the Constables throughout the Town to search for some friends at a meeting occasion new stirs in the Town when before it was quiet blew up afresh the spirits of the people who disturbed with Tumults the private meeting in Cornstreet the 18th of the 11th moneth following and abused those who went in and out as formerly But those sparks waxing faint and the meeting two dayes after in the same place unmolested no people at all being gathered about the house Alder. Vickris then Deputy-Maior being forward in these persecutions was very eager to do some notable thing in the Maiors absence And therefore when the City was quiet sends for the Aldermen and for the Sergeants and Constables and by Candle-light meets in the Councell-house which raised an admiration in the Town and drew many to the Tolzey and from thence sends Constables to the meeting to look for and to bring before him and his brethren George Fox John Audland John Camm Francis Howgill Edward Burrough and James Nayler But the meeting was rose before and John Audland who onely of those aforementioned was in Town was departed whereupon he sent for the man of the house who went to them and gave them such answers as their Questions required and to other houses he sent to seek them whereby occasion was given of New Tumults and disturbances And the next day Thomas Bawdon Apprentice Thomas Bawdon 22th 11th month 1654. speaking to the People Committed to Edward Wilcox speaking to the people after all was ended not to the Priest was the 22th of the same month committed by them to prison for so doing in observing of their own Order of Sessions aforesaid not of the Law for it gave them no such Power or Authority The Deputy-Maior missing in what he attempted Warrant issued out in general for the apprehending of some friends the last day of the week aforementioned is put by the Serpent on a new expedient viz. to issue out a Warrant in generall to all Constables to apprehend them though neither John Audland nor John Camm nor any of those Northern friends avoided them at any time but stood single in their own freedom ready to appear and to give an answer to what should be demanded of them though they had no reason to put themselves as a prey into their teeth who sought to devour them and to hinder their Ministry And for this the Deputy-Maior thought he had 23d 11th month 1654. A house endeavoured to be search'd and forc'd at a meeting by vertue thereof and tumult raised thereupon the people being still till the Magistrates met together to give order therein got his opportunity for hearing of the meeting at the same house again the 23. of the eleventh moneth the Town being quiet he sends for the Aldermen to meet him in the Councel-House and thorough the Wards for all the Constables which though it alarmed the whole Town yet few of the Constables would appear except such as had been old Malignants and some of them with a Serjeant about the third hour in the afternoon he and his brethren send to search the house and to apprehend George Fox James Nayler John Comm John Audland Francis Howgill and Edward Burrough or any of them they should find there These Officers coming to the house and finding the door fast they knock thereat the Man of the house going to the door demanded their businesse They replyed that the Deputy-Maior and the Aldermen had sent them to search his house for the men aforementioned and to bring them before him He demanded the Warrant They answered they had none onely by word of mouth He replyed without a legal Warrant he could let none into his house and that he wondred the Deputy Mayor should send thus to him both on the last day of the week and then in regard he was well known to have behaved himself peaceably and soberly and to entertain none but such persons whereupon they returned to the Deputy-Maior A great concourse of people being by the Constables thus coming drawn together who were rude and endeavoured to follow the Constables into the house though before the Magistrates met and the Constables came the streets were quiet About half an hour after the Officers returned again and told the man of the house who held the door open in his hand that they had now a Warrant to search He desired to see it they denyed it saying The Warrant was their security but they would read it to him He replyed his house was his security and defence that he knew in what cases the Law allowed searches to be made If their Warrant were legal they should come in but for hearing of it read he would not he thereby being not able to know whether it were true or false and that there were many tumultuous people at the dore whom it concerned them to take course with and to keep the Peace For those in his house they were Christians met together to wait on the Lord and desired to know whether the Magistrates would disturb them They denyed again to let him see the Warrant and told him that it Was not particularly directed to him Then he desired them to give him a Coppy thereof and if he saw it were according to Law he would let them search They replyed they could not give a Copy of the Maiors Warrant and with that forcibly attempted to enter and afterwards offred violence to break it open whereupon some of them departed again and the rest staid about the door which occasioned the tumult very much to encrease before their faces which they appeased not though by him required Afterwards they returned again but refused to give him a Coppy of their Warrant or to let him take a Copy though he promised them to return it immediatly and to let them come in if it were legal and desired to know his positive answer To which he replyed that they had offered vilence to his house not shewing him any Warrant nor giving him any Coppy that the street was full of tumultuous people which for ought he knew attended their coming in and what mischief they and the tumult meant he knew not Therefore he was resolved to look to his own security They told him the Magistrates would take it ill of him He replyed he had reason to take it ill of the Magistrates to occasion his house to be thus assaulted both then and at other times and in permitting such Tumults on his house and his peaceable friends therein that his house was as free

he was commanded of the Lord for what he did At which the Mayors wife and others present scoft Saying This is all your story Then the Mayor demanded their names and their Countrey which they gave whereupon the Mayor commanded them both to Newgate Thomas told the Mayor at his departure that he had discharged his Conscience and bad him see that he did execute Justice and Judgement without respect of persons for the Lord required it VVhen they came to the Mayors door the Tumult staying there till then hurried them to Newgate some crying Committed out Whip them about the streets others hang them up Newgate is too good for them where they were both secured though Josiah Cole spake not a word in the Steeple-house but standing still received many blows and other abuses without resistance and though Thomas Robertson spake not a word till all was dismist and then but these words Tremble before the Lord and the words of his holynesse But those who struck him in the Steeple-house and made the Tumult there and in Tumultuous Companies hurryed them to the Maiors and staying there till the Mayor had Committed them in tumults haled them to Newgate and struck and took away the hats of some who endeavoured the Peace not a man of whom are enquired after or punished to this day though Complaint was made thereof and though contrary to their own order made at the Sessions aforesaid read in the Steeple-houses Nor did the Constables arrest or apprehend any offender therein then or since though they were so long amongst them and though that Order requires them so to do nor hath the Maior punished any of those Constables for neglect of their duty The next day some Officers came to the prison with Orders as they said from the Maior to release them if they would pay their fees and to turn them out of Town without being further examined or brought before the Magistrates but they refusing to pay any fees were returned in again and shortly after released Thomas Robertson was five or six years in Arms for the Parliament an Officer in Colonel Brigg's Regiment was at Preston Fight at the Engagement at the Bridge in Scotland and Carlisle living on his own estate and bearing his own charge in the Warres except a small Summe which he received after the fight at Preston Josiah Cole was also a Souldier in the Service of the Common-wealth and at Worcester Fight whose Liberties now are not valued at all or regarded by these Magistrates The same day Christopher Birkhead was moved 4th 12th month 1654 Christopher Birkhead speaking to a ● Priest to go to Stephen's Steeple-house where sitting silent Alderman Cann a Ruler present commanded him to be brought to his house from whence he by and by returned and sate saying nothing till all was ended Then he said to the Priest Thou Sonne of Pride and was proceeding further to speak but the same Alderman thrust him down from the place whereon he stood and a young man held him by the Coller till the Constables came and then he saying further The Plagues of God is thy portion the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it they carried him away towards the Mayor's but afterwards brought him to his own house by order of the said Alderman upon his meeting of them in the street The next day 4th 12●h month 1654. the Mayor and Aldermen sent for him before them from a Ship on which he was at work he being a Shipwright by Calling and a S●aman able to take charge of a Ship And demanded of Examined him wherefor●●● disturbed the Congregation the day before in the Church He answered he disturbed no man and that the Church was in God They asked him why he came thither and why he staid not at home when the Alderman sent him He replyed The fear of the Lord brought him thither and made him to speak God was his witnesse Then came in the Priest and after he had bowed himself to the Magistrates Alderman Joseph Jackson asked the Priest what Christopher had said to him The Priest answered he said something to my Pride the Priest was light and vain laughing and deriding Then said Christopher to him Professest thou thy self a Minister of the Gospel and yet art light and vain and laughing before the Magistrates Oh said the Priest he owneth you to be Magistrates Yea replyed Christopher I own Magistracy that punisheth evil doers and praiseth them that do well Then the Magistrates asked him why he quaked so for the power of the Lord was much upon him whilest he was before them and whether he was acold or afraid He answered he was neither cold nor afraid of any man God was his witnesse he feared the Lord They replyed the Devill shook him He answered the holy men of God shaked and instanced in Daniel and Habakkuck c. Thus did he quake yesterday at Church said one of the Aldermen and said Joseph Jackson deriding him I 'll make thee give over shaking and so looks fierce on him and then said Shake now shake now And asked him how much money he had for going to the Church He answered No man knew of it but himself God was his witnesse Then they asked him how he dared to call the Minister the son of Pride He answered because he saw him so in the light of Christ which discovers him They demanded how he dared to Judge him He replyed All Judgment was given to the Sonne They said that was to Christ He answered unlesse the Spirit of Christ was in them they were none of his And the same Spirit judgeth the same in all Then they asked him whether he knew before-hand that that Minister should preach or Mr. Jones Thereupon he began to give them an accompt and said That upon the third day of the foregoing week about the 11th hour of the night the Lord bade him to go to the S●eeple-house there to bear witnesse for his Name But he knew not whether he should speak to him till he saw his face But they sleighted what he declared and said Whip him send him to Bride-well And Joseph Jackson said that if he had the whipping of him he would make him give over quaking Then the Priest came and stood near him upon whom Christopher looking Joseph Jackson said All thy spight is at the Minister There he is what canst thou say to him To whom he replyed after a little silence Darest thou to own thy self to be a Minister of Christ The Priest answered not but went from him If thou doest said Christopher I am sure thou livest out of his doctrine calling of men Masters and being called of men Master stealing the word from thy neighbour speaking a divination of thine own brain and not from the mouth of the Lord as the false Prophets did with much more to that purpose Then Joseph Jackson asked Christopher whether he did ever pray He answered yea How said he Christopher

either side and without any signification to him to this day wherefore he was sent for or committed where he was continued a prisoner 33 days and a close Prisoner by order of the Major and none to come to him but his servants as said the keeper though he be a shop keeper and as a Wi●ower and had one child sick dead and buryed whilest he was thus unjustly imprisoned being kept from seeing it or going to its buriall and had another sick and no body but his servant to look to his shop and trading not knowing of to this day any thing whereby they have cause against him according to Law Have such pieces of tyrannicall injustice and cruelty as these been heard of in this Nation or dared the highest Ministers of State under Charles Stuart so to do was not Strafford to these men a Petty transgressor and his loynes as their little finger And the more they persecuted the more they thirsted after persecution for on the eleventh day of the third moneth the Magistrates sent for William William Foord 11. day 3. mon●h 1655. Foord to come before them where being come the Company of Milliners complained that he kept a man at work in contempt of the Majors order for on the thirtieth day of the second moneth they had sent for him Concerning the same business upon Complaint of the Milliners for that he kept a stranger at work contrary as they pretended to their Ordinary whereupon the Major charged Foord to turn the stranger away and not to teach him his trade which he refused to do in regard he was none of that Company and had followed the trade of Wooll-combing before they were a Corporation and because the man had been all his youth a Souldier in the Army and in a capacitie by the late Act to set up any where nor was he obliged by any Law either not to teach him his trade or to turn him out of his house he beeing an honest sober man desirous to learn a calling whereby to live And they further alledged that he should say he would keep him in spight of any mans teeth whereupon their witnes was produced and sworne who denyed that he said in spight of any mans teeth but that William ●●ord had said he intended to teach him then one of the Aldermen affirmed that he promised to turne him away which William Foord denyed to be truth whereupon he called to the Milliners to justify it but they were made to speak the truth which was that he refused to turn the man out of his house and that he could say nothing as to the teaching of him Then they asked the Milliners what fine he had Committed by their Ordinary they answered half a Crown a day for every day he had employed him they asked why they did not levy the fine upon him They replyed if he would turn away the man they would be satisfied He told them he was not of their trade and therefore their Ordinary had no power over him and that the man whom he was teaching might make use of any trade by the Act to which Alderman Joseph Jackson replyed it was no such matter and said Is that your Conscience Then they asked him whether he would keep the man or no to which he replyed he should Then the Major asked him whether he had any sureties there present He asked him what to do The Major told him he should be bound to the good behaviour He answered he had broken no Law therefore he should provide no Sureties then they told him he should go to Newgate he asked them for a Mittimus whereupon Committed they in scorn laughed at him and Shiriff Lawford told him he knew not the Law He replyed whether he knew it or no it was convenient that he might have under their hands wherefore he was committed Then they said the Majors word was a Mittimus He said again he should not go without something under their hand then Shiriff Lawford said h● should be carryed in a wheel-barrow and the Officers staying a while for him and seeing ●hat he would not go they comma●ded their Officers to carry him away so many of them came about him and did drive him along before them to prison where he was continued for the space of 26. dayes a prisoner from his family and calling both Daniel Wastfield and William Foord being men who h●ve been alwayes faithfull and active for the publique interest and have served it in Armes and so hath the stranger because of whom they pretend to have imprisoned William Foord though that and their being such as are reproachfully called Quakers may be understood the true reason wherefore they are thus unjustly dealt withall and occ●sions sought against them for the Law they have not transgressed After the imprisonment of these for the space of time aforementioned the friends of truth had Christopher B●rkhead 2. day 5. month 16●5 Standing silent in Nicholas Steeple-house wh●lst Priest Farmer was worsh●pping some respite from their bonds till the second day of the 7. month at which time Christopher Birkhead being in the Steeple house called Nicholas unto which he was moved of the Lord he stood there silent whilst Priest Farmer said a few words as a prayer and read some Psalmes which when he had done the Priest sto●d still saying nothing But looked towards the Aldermen present with whom his Clarke was talking and took a Psalmes booke of a boy as if he would sing and went to open it but did not but turning two or three times and looking on the Magistrates with whom his Clarke was speaking as aforesaid At length about the time that Miles Jackson Alderman was coming out of his feate towards Christopher Priest Farmer began to speak to Christopher and told him he disturbed the People by standing with his hat on in the time of Prayer and moreover said to him that if he had any thing to say he should speak and tell his business why he came thither for Christopher was silent then and not before Christopher began to speak Thus saith the Lord A wonderfull and horrible thing is Committed in the land and was speaking further but Priest Farmer said he would have none of that or word● to that purpose and spake loud that the people might not hear Christopher By this time Miles Jackson being come from his seat to the place where Christopher stood commanded him to be taken away saying he was a disturber Christopher Struck replied All people take notice whether I have disturbed any man Then the under-Sexton laid hands on him in the place and in the view of the Magistrate and the Priest strooke him on the head with a stick Tumulted c. and the rude multitude came about him some striking some pinching and some thrusting him which caused him to turne his head to the Priest and say see the fruits of thy Ministry then the Rude Multitude haled him towards the

breach of any one Law either of God or the Nation was proved against him yet they sent him back to Newgate Prison where they keep him from his employment which should maintain his family Then William Foord was called being out of Prison William Foord his Triall upon sureties to whom the Town-Clark spake concerning his being bound to the good behaviour which he denyed Wherefore are you here then said the Town-Clark He answered he Came there to Cleere those of their bonds who had bound themselves unknown unto him for his appearance upon which they searched their Papers and were silent Afterwards the Town-Clark asked him for what he was examined at the Tolsey and imprisoned He asked whether they had it not upon R●cord then they called for Richard Goodwin supposing he had been the man that prosecuted against him But that not serving their turn they seeing Thomas Hayter they asked him He told them it was for keeping a stranger at work Then the Town-Clark asked William Foord where the Stranger was He answered He knew not when saw you him said the Town Clark He replyed he had not seene him a great while the Town-Clark asked Thomas Hayter whether he knew where he was He answered he knew not but thought he was out of Town Then the Town-Clark asked him whether he was sorry for what he had done He answered he had committed no evill therefore he had no cause of sorrow nor had he broken any Law which being urged again and again and he still refusing they Commanded the Keeper of Newgate to to take him away And lastly Christopher Birkhead was brought before them from Bridewell where he had been a Prisoner five weeks and three dayes for standing silent in the Steeple-house till the Priest required him to speak as aforesaid To whom he said I stand in obedience to the Righteous Law of God in my Conscience I have neither offended the Law of God nor the Nation whereupon Alderman Joseph Jackson stood up in fury and asked him whether he would contemne the Court He answered He contemned not those who judged Righteously Then Robert Aldworth asked him whether he was sorry for disturbing the Congregation at Nicholas He answered He disturbed no man where was his accusers Robert Aldworth replyed that must come after Joseph Jackson said take him away untill he find sureties for his good behaviour So they put him from the barre But Christopher stood up again and said first prove me to be of evill behaviour but he heard them make no answer and so he was put by without any examination of the cause of his imprisonment or what he had done Neither was an accuser brought against him though he had been so long in prison as they were swearing the Jury he was moved of the Lord to speak to them and said All these that swear are out of the Doctrine of Christ to which they hearkened not but returned Christopher with the other five aforementioned to Newgate Prison with the transgressors amongst whom they were caused to stand● and were numbred though four of them have families which depended upon their liberty for maintenance as is well known to these Rulers who care not how they oppresse a man and his house and take the Parents from their Children and husbands from their Wives and Wives from their Husbands and Masters from their families not fearing the Lord who hath said Against such he hath devised an evill out of which they shall not remove their necks nor goe haughtily for the time is evill and that he will come neere to Judgement and be a swift witness against such And with them they also returned to prison and continue there Richard Jones who hath always Richard Jones been faithfull to the Parliament and in their service hath often stoutly adventured his life lost his estate and severall times been a Prisoner twice in this City whom they committed the 28. day of the 6. month and kept in durance from his family which depended upon him for maintenance for some evill words which he had spoken above a year since Concerning George Hellier then Major in the time of his Ignorance and Heathenish nature wherein as he Confessed and spake in the Court he ran with the world into the same excesse of riot into evill words wicked wayes and customes of the world which after his Conversion and becoming obedient to the truth were remembred against him though spoken by him so long before and he punished as aforesaid beyond the directions of any known Law in that particular Now all evill speaking is denyed by the Children of the light and by him also as he said to the Court in these words since the day hath appeared of my Convincement and Coversion the grace of God that hath appeared to all men teaching the Saints to deny all ungodlyness and worldly lusts the same grace hath appeared unto me and doth teach me to deny all ungodliness worldly lusts and to live soberly and righteously in this present evill wo●ld But as to all the tumults riots insurrections violences outrages beatings injuries and abuses aforementioned raised acted and committed upon the Innocent servants of the Lord the witnesses of Jesus no enquiry and proceedings according to Law were had either at this Sessions or at the Gaol delivery or at the Sessions 19. day of the Eleventh month 16 4. nor at any other time except as before expressed Nor any one offender therein questioned and proceeded with according to Law to this day though of so unheard of and unsufferable a nature and so contrary to Law Justice Order Government Humility and the Scriptures of Truth On the fift day of the ninth month five of the Prisoners aforesaid viz. John Smith Richard Jones Christopher Birkhead who had been there sick about a fortnight Margaret Thomas and William Foord who also had been sick were turned out of Prison upon two becoming baile unknown to them or any of their friends for their appearance onely at the next Generall Sessions of which they having information after they had notice from the Keepers servants that they might go forth protested against their being freed on that accompt and also for clearing their Consciences and that the truth might not suffer wrote to one of them advising him to take up their Bond least they should bring themselves into trouble and to let them stand to their own Master who would deliver them for that in the will of God they stood and not in their own or in their own time and did not know whether the Lord might carry them to bear witness to his name before the time came and moreover that they did not accept of deliverance at all by any such means who were innocent did suffer for the truth of God according to their measures Notwithstanding they put them forth And Temperance Hignell who was knockt down to the ground to the astonishment of her sences and afterwards sorely beat and bruised and