Pagina-afbeeldingen
PDF
ePub

Many ways were these professors warned, both by word, by writing, and by signs; but they would believe none, till it was too late. William Sympson was moved of the Lord to go at several times for three years, naked and barefoot before them, as a sign unto them, in markets, courts, towns, cities, to priest's houses, and to great men's houses, telling them, so should they be all stripped naked, as he was stripped naked. And sometimes he was moved to put on hair sackcloth, and to besmear his face, and to tell them, so would the Lord God besmear all their religion, as he was besmeared. Great sufferings did that poor man undergo, sore whippings with horse-whips and coach-whips on his bare body, grievous stonings and imprisonments, in three years time, before the king came in, that they might have taken warning, but they would not; but rewarded his love with cruel usage. Only the mayor of Cambridge did nobly to him, for he put his gown about him, and took him into his house.

Another friend, one Robert Huntington, was moved of the Lord to go into Carlisle steeple-house, with a white sheet about him, amongst the great Presbyterians and Independents there, to shew them that the surplice was coming up again and he put an halter about his neck, to shew them that an halter was coming upon them: which was fulfilled upon some of our persecutors not long after.

Another, whose name was Richard Sale, living near West Chester, and being constable of the place where he lived, had a friend sent to him with a pass (whom those wicked professors had taken up for a vagabond, because he travelled up and down in the work of the ministry) and this constable being convinced by the friend that was thus brought to him, gave him his pass and liberty, and was afterwards himself cast into prison. After this, on a lecture day, this Richard Sale was moved to go to the steeplehouse, in the time of their worship, and to carry those persecuting priests and people a lantern and candle, as a figure of their darkness: but they cruelly abused him, and like dark professors as they were, they put him into their prison called Little-Ease; and so squeezed his body therein that not long after he died. Many warnings of many sorts were friends moved in the power of the Lord to give unto that generation, which they not only rejected, but abused friends, calling us giddy-headed quakers: but God brought his judgments upon those persecuting priests and magistrates. For when the king came in, most of them were turned out of their places and benefices, and the spoilers were spoiled: and then we could ask them, who

were the giddy heads now. Then many did confess we had been true prophets to the nation, and said, had we cried against some priests only, they should have liked us then; but we crying against all, that made them dislike us but now they did see that those priests, which then were looked upon to be the best, were as bad as the rest. For indeed, some of those that were counted to be the most eminent priests, were the bitterest and greatest stirrers up of the magistrates to persecution; and it was a judgment upon them to be denied the free liberty of their consciences when the king came in, because when they were uppermost they would not have had liberty of conscience been granted unto others. For there was one Hewes of Plymouth, a priest of great note in Oliver's days, who, when some liberty was granted, prayed that God would put it into the hearts of the chief magistrates of the nation, to remove this cursed toleration: and others of them prayed against it by the name of Intolerable Toleration. But a while after, when the king was come in, and priest Hewes turned out of his great benefice for not conforming to the common prayer, a friend of Plymouth meeting with him, asked him whether he would account toleration accursed now? and whether he would not now be glad of a toleration: To which the priest returned no answer, save by the shaking of his head. But as stiff as this sort of men were then against toleration, it is well known that many of them petitioned the king for toleration, and for meetingplaces, and paid for licences too. But to return to the present time, the latter end of the year 1660 and beginning of 1661.

Although those friends that had been imprisoned upon the rising of those monarchy-men, were set at liberty, vet meetings were much disturbed, and great sufferings friends went under. For besides what was done by officers and soldiers, many wild fellows and rude people often came in. There came one time, when I was at Pall-Mall, an ambassador with a company of Irishmen with rude fellows the meeting was done before they came, and I was gone up into a chamber, where I heard one of them say, he would kill all the Quakers. So I went down to him, and was moved in the power of the Lord to speak to him and I told him, the law said, an eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth; but thou threatens to kill all the Quakers, though they have done thee no hurt. But said I, here is gospel for thee here is my hair, and here is my cheek, and here is my shoulder, turning it to him. This came so over him, that he and his companions stood as men amazed, and said,

1660]

if that was our principle, and if we were as we said, they
never saw the like in their lives. I told them, what I was
Then the ambassador
in words, I was the same in life.
came in (for he had stood without; for he said, that Irish
colonel was such a desperate man, that he durst not come
in with him, for fear he should have done us some mischief)
but truth came over him, and he carried himself lovingly
towards us; and so did the ambassador also, for the Lord's
power was over them all.

At Mile-end friends were kept out of their meeting-place by soldiers, but friends stood nobly in the truth, and were valiant for the Lord's name and at last the truth gave them dominion.

About this time we had account that John Love, a friend, that was moved to go and bear testimony against the idolatory of the papists, was dead in prison at Rome; and it was suspected he was privately put to death in prison. John Perrot was also prisoner there, and being released, came over again; but after his arrival here, he, with Charles Baily, and some others, turned aside from the unity of friends and truth. Whereupon I was moved to give forth a paper, declaring how the Lord would blast them all, both him and his followers, (if they did not repent and return) and that they should wither, like the grass on the house-top: and so many of them did; but others of them returned and repented.

Also before this time we received account from NewEngland, that the government there had made a law to banish the Quakers out of their colonies, upon pain of death in case they returned; and that several of our friends, having been so banished, and returning, were thereupon taken, and actually hanged: and that divers more were in prison, in danger of the like sentence to be executed upon them. When those were put to death, I was in prison at Lancaster, and had a perfect sense of their sufferings, as though it had been myself, and as though the halter had been put about my own neck; though we had not at that time heard of it.

But as soon

as we heard of it, Edward Burrough went to the king, and told him there was a vein of innocent blood opened in his dominions, which, if it were not stopped, would overrun all. To which the king replied, But I will stop that vein. Edward Burrough said, Then do it speedily, for we do not know how many may soon be put to death. The king answered, As speedily as ye will. Call (said he to some present) the secretary, and I will do it presently. So the secretary being called, a mandamus was forthwith

granted. A day or two after, Edward Burrough going again to the king, to desire the matter might be expedited, the king said, he had no occasion at present to send a ship thither, but if we would send one we might do it as soon as we would. Edward Burrough then asked the king, if it would please him to grant his deputation to one called a Quaker, to carry the mandamus to New-England, (which is hereafter inserted). He said, Yes, to whom ye will. Whereupon E. B. named one Samuel Shattock (as I remember) who being an inhabitant of New-England, was banished by their law to be hanged if he came again: and to him the deputation was granted. Then we sent for one Ralph Goldsmith, an honest friend, who was master of a good ship, and with him we agreed for three hundred pounds (goods or no goods) to sail in ten days. He forthwith prepared to set sail, and with a prosperous gale, in about six weeks time, arrived before the town of Boston, in New-England, upon a first-day morning, called Sunday. With him went many passengers, both of New and Old England, that were friends, whom the Lord did move to go to bear their testimony against those bloody persecutors, who had exceeded all the world in that age, in their bloody perseutions. The townsmen at Boston seeing a ship come into the bay with English colours, soon came on board, and asked for the captain; Ralph Goldsmith told them he was the commander. They asked him if he had any letters; he said, yes. They asked if he would deliver them; he said, no, not to-day. So they went on shore, and reported there was a ship full of Quakers, and that Samuel Shattock was among them, whom they knew was, by their law, to be put to death, for coming again after banishment: but they knew not his errand nor his authority. So all being kept close that day, and none of the ship's company suffered to go on shore, next morning Samuel Shattock, the king's deputy, and Ralph Goldsmith, the commander of the vessel, went on shore; and sending back to the ship the men that landed them, they two went through the town to the governor's, John Endicott's door, and knocked. He sent out a man to know their business; they sent him word, their business was from the king of England, and they would deliver their message to none but the governor himself. Thereupon they were admitted to go in, and the governor came to them; and having received the deputation and mandamus, he laid off his hat, and looked upon them: then going out, he bid the friends follow him. So he went to the deputy-governor, and after a short consultation, came out to the friends, and said,

We shall obey his majesty's commands. After this the master gave liberty to the passengers to come on shore; and presently the noise of the business flew about the town; and the friends of the town and the passengers of the ship met together, to offer up their praises and thanksgivings to God, who had so wonderfully delivered them from the teeth of the devourer. While they were thus met, in came a poor friend, who being sentenced by their bloody law to die, had lain some time in irons, expecting execution. This added to their joy, and caused them to lift up their hearts in high praises to God, who is worthy for ever to have the praise, the glory, and the honour; for he only is able to deliver, and to save, and to support all that sincerely put their trust in him. Here follows a copy of the said mandamus:

'Charles R.

Trusty and well beloved, we greet you well. Having been informed that several of our subjects amongst you, called Quakers, have been and are imprisoned by you, whereof some have been executed, and others (as hath been represented unto us) are in danger to undergo the like, we have thought fit to signify our pleasure in that behalf for the future: and do hereby require, that if there be any of those people called Quakers amongst you, now already condemned to suffer death, or other corporal punishment; or that are imprisoned, and obnoxious to the like condemnation, you are to forbear to proceed any further therein; but that you forthwith send the said persons (whether condemned or imprisoned) over into this our kingdom of England, together with the respective crimes or offences laid to their charge: to the end such course may be taken with them here, as shall be agreeable to our laws and their demerits. And for so doing, these our letters shall be your sufficient warrant and discharge. Given at our Court at Whitehall, the 9th day of September, 1661, in the thirteenth year of our reign."

Subscribed: To our trusty and well-beloved John Endicott, esq. and to all and every other the governor or governors of our plantations of New-England, and of all the colonies thereunto belonging, that now are, or hereafter shall be; and to all and every the ministers and officers of our plantations and colonies whatsoever, within the continent of New England. William Morris,

By his majesty's command.

[blocks in formation]
« VorigeDoorgaan »