ON Lords-day ( May 15.) at the dwelling-house of one John Fen, a Haberdasher of Hatts, many persons being assembled for Religious Exercise; One West and Feckman (two Appa­ritors ) by a Warrant from one Mr. Foster, who is a Justice of Peace, and the Commissaries Deputy, did enter the House, and force the Meeters to Mr. Fosters House, who fined every one of them severally, according to their reputed abilities; and committed the Preacher to Prison, for words he spake against the Church of England, then occasioned by the discourse of Mr. Foster. The Apparitors charged (by vertue of their Warrant) a Constable, and a Church­warden, to assist them; but they neglecting, (being not willing to the work, as they themselves declared) were fined each of them five pounds; though by intercession of friends, the Fines are not yet levied.

[Page 4] On Friday following, one Thomas Battison another Churchwarden, and the most active and busie in the work, having with much labour and difficulty called together the Overseers of the Poor, and the Con­stables of the several Wards, to levy the several Fines upon the Goods of the Meeters, did fitst attempt to levy the Fine of Ten pounds up­on the Goods of one John Bardolf a Maltster, who having sold all his Malt before the Act commenced, and delivered his Malt and Malt-house into his possession to whom he had sold them, none of the Of­ficers would joyn with Battison to break open the Door of the Malt-house, or to distrain the Malt, though he most importunately charged and besought them to do it, promising to bear them harmless.

Whilst Battison and the other Officers were debating in the open Yard before the Malthouse Door, a great number of all sorts of per­sons were gathered about them, expressing (by turns) their indigna­tion against him, for attempting this against Bardolf; whom the whole Town knew to be a just and harmless man; and the common sort of people covertly fixing a Calves tayl to Battisons back, and deriding him with shouts and hollows, he departed without taking any distress there; and advanced with other Officers to Edward Covingtons Shop, a Grocer, to levy five shillings, for his Wife being at the Meeting, where none of the Officers would distreyn but Battison, who took a Brass Kettle, but when he had brought it to the street-door, none of the Officers would carry it away; neither could he hire any to do it in two hours time, though he offered money to such needy persons among the company as wanted bread; At last he got a youth for six­pence to carry the Kettle less way than a stones-throw, to an Inn-yard where before he had hired a Room to lodge such Goods, under pre­tence to lodge Grain: but when the Youth had carried the Kettle to the Inn-gate, (being hooted at all the way by the common Spectators) the Inn-keeper would not suffer the Kettle to be brought into his Yard; and so his man set it out in the middle of the street, None re­garding it, till towards night a poor woman that receiveth alms was caused by an Overseer to carry it away.

From hence, Battison, with the rest of the Officers at his heels, proceeds to distrein one John Spencer a Grocer, for a Fine of Forty shillings; but his Shop-door being lockt, Battison could not prevail with the Officers to joyn with him in breaking it open: and so this day ended, without any other distress than that of the Kettle.

The next day, which was the Market-day, the Justices under­standing how Battison was discouraged in his work by the backwardness of the other Officers, and the open discountenance of the other peo­ple, [Page 5] commanded the Officers to break open the Doors, and levy the Distresses, and promised them to bear them harmless: Immediately old Battison, with a file of Soldiers and the Constables, in the middle of Market-time advanced again to the Malt-house of John Bardolfe, (scituate in an Inn-yard in the middle of the Market-place) and breaks open the Doors, but not without long time and trouble, all people refusing to lend either Bars or Hammers, which they sent from place to place to borrow for that purpose: When the Doors were broken open, Battison distreyned fourteen Quarters of Malt, but it was night before he could carry them away; for though the Market-place was then full of Porters (it being a great Corn-Market) yet none of them would assist, though charged strictly by Battison and the Constables, but ran all away, and left their Fares; some of them saying, they would be hang'd drawn and quarterd before they would assist in that work; for which cause the Justices committed two of them (which they could take) to the Gaol.

The next day, being Lords-Day, Fines were doubled upon the Meeters, before the first could be levied; for they assembling again at the same House, according to their custom; Battison with the two Apparitors, by another Warrant from Mr. Foster, entred the Meeting-place about nine of the clock in the morning: but the Mèeters refu­sing to depart before their Exercise was ended (unless forced) Batti­son sends word of it to Mr. Foster, who returns a verbal Order, that Battison should charge certain Gentlemen of the Town (whose names he had sent by the messenger) to assist him; which Battison accord­ingly did, going to their Houses to call them, though there were near a hundred common people spectators in the streets, and none of them then charged to assist, and also Trained-Band Souldiers ready in Town for this service, partly at the charge of these Gentlemen whom Battison had so warned to assist, and who were so warned (as is sup­posed ) upon design, to have them incur the penalties of five pounds for their refusing. About ten of the clock in the morning the Meeters went with Battison and the Apparitors (being constrained so to do) to the Swan in Bedford, where being kept till four of the clock in the afternoon, and their names taken by the Justices, they were set at liberty.

Next morning Mr. Foster the Justice appears early in the streets, with old Battison and the two Apparitors, a file of Souldiers and some Constables, to see the Fines levied upon the Meeters Goods; charg­ing to his assistance such persons he sees, and sending for others to their houses, but got few or none besides his first company; most of [Page 6] the Tradesmen, Journeymen, Labourers and Servants having either left the Town, or hid themselves, to avoid his call. The Town was so thin of people, that it looked more like a Country Village than a Corporation; and the Shops being generally shut down, it seemed like a place visited with the Pest, where usually is written upon the Door, Lord have mercy upon us!

The first Distress was attempted upon the Goods of one Nicholas Hawkins a Cutler, who was fined forty shillings; but his Goods be­ing removed beforehand, and his House visited with the Small-Pox, the Officers declined entring. Mr. Foster meeting here on John Croker (that was also fined three pounds) commanded his assistance; who refusing, was therefore by Mr. Foster commanded into the custo­dy of one of the Town-Sergeants, then present.

From hence Mr. Foster went into the House of one Michael Shep­heard a Shoomaker, who was fined five shillings; where a Distress was made, not only for five shillings, but also for 12d. more; because the said Shepheard being asked the same time by Mr. Foster, if he was at Church the day before? and not answering, only desired to know who accused him, or would swear it.

The next House in their way was one Thomas Honyloves, a Journy­man -Shoomaker, fined twenty shillings or more; whose Children lying sick of the Small-pox, in the House where his Goods lay, the Officers were unwilling to enter, and so Mr. Foster drew them off to one Thomas Cowpers a Heelmaker, fined forty shillings; distreyning three Cart-load of Wood, cut especially for his working; which was of more value than any of his houshold Goods, he being a poor man, and living only upon making Heels and Lasts.

The next remove was to one John Crokers House before mention­ed, a Dealer in Linen Drapery, and fined three pounds; who having removed his Shop-Goods to another place, to secure them from the Distress, old Battison would not trouble himself to distrein then, but said he would take a better opportunity to get his Goods.

Near this place lived one Daniel Rich, a Tanner, and Constable of that Ward; who being fined five shillings for his Wife, had his best Wearing-Coat distreyned the same time, by immediate Order of Mr, Foster.

From hence Mr. Foster marcheth to John Spencer, a Grocer; whose Goods he distreyned for a Fine of about forty shillings. The next Neighbour was William Jay, a Baker, who was also distreyned for five shillings. And next to him lived one Edward Isaae, a Blacksmith, fined forty shillings for himself and his Wife; from whom they took [Page 7] away Locks, Shovels, and the very Anvil upon which he forgeth his Work; and Battison would have pulled down the Forge-Bellows also, but that it required more time and labour, than his itch to greater prizes in other places would allow him: Hastening therefore to their Market, they leave (for a time) the Parish of Pauls, invading the Parish of Cuthberts; where they find the door of one Thomas Arthur a Pipe-maker, locked, who was fined five pounds; before they had broken the door open by attempts they made at it, the same was un­locked on the in-side; Mr. Foster enters, and distreyning all the Goods within doors and without, the said Arthur desired to know, how much Money he had distreyned for? to whom the said Mr. Foster replied, that they distreyned for eleven pounds: thereupon Thomas Arthur desired to see the Warrant; which being produced, he seeing himself therein but six pound, told Mr. Foster so: to which M. Foster an­swered, that there was five pound more for keeping his Door locked. When Thomas Arthur perceived that Mr. Foster would distreyn all his Goods; he said, Sir, What shall my Children do, shall they starve? Mr. Foster re­plied, that so long as he was a Rebel, his Children should starve. And so on Wednesday following, old Battison, the two Apparitors, with a File of Musquetiers, and a Cart, carried away what Houshold Goods they thought fit, and all the Wood both within doors and without, necessary to his Trade, by three Cart-load, not leaving so much as to suffice for the burning of a Kiln of Pipes, ready set, though earnestly desired by the poor Pipemaker himself, and also by others of Battisons Company. Mr. Foster having done his Work at the Pipemakers, pro­ceeds in the Parish to one Robert Browns a Gardener, distreyning all his Houshold Goods, for a Fine supposed to be three pounds: making haste to the chiefest place they aimed at, for their turn, they passed into Peters Parish, to the House of Mris. Mary Tilney, Widow, a Gentlewoman well descended, and of a good Estate, who was fined Twenty pounds; and to make her exemplary in suffering for that offence, Mr. Foster himself, being attended by his Publick Notary, will see the Fine effectually levied upon her Goods; and indeed the same was effectually done; for (a Cart being provided for that pur­pose ) they distreyned and carried away all the Goods in her House they thought worth their labour, as Tables, Cupboards, Chairs, Irons, Feather-beds, Blankets, the very Hangings of the Room, and the Sheets off her Bed, insomuch that the Widow was forced that night to borrow Sheets of her Neighbours to lie in, being not willing to lodge out of her own House, though invited by her friendly Neigh­bours ; nor did they leave her one Featherbed of her own (having [Page 8] taken three away) whereon to spread those Sheets she borrowed, but she was forced to make use of a Bed and Bolster of anothers, left in her House: It is true the Gentlewoman had more good Houshold­stuff of her own, than was at this time found in her House; but foreseeing the Waste intended upon her, prudently secured the best of them abroad; and therefore cannot with safety possess them for her necessary use: And as for the value of those Goods taken away, it is supposed to be betwixt forty and fifty pounds. Yet the said Mris Tilney was more troubled at the crying and sighing of her poor Neighbours about her, (who were much affected with her sufferings, she being very charitable) than for the loss of her Goods, which she took very chearfully. And so the Officers left her, having finished this dayes work.

The next day, being Tuesday, more Fines were to be levied on the Goods of the rest of the Meeters; but Battison finding it would lie hard upon him and the two Apparitors, for want of more help than they had the day before; and fore-knowing that if he deferred charg­ing Assistance till he began his work, all people would get out of the way, as they did; Therefore early in the morning he walked alone in the Streets, looking into the Shops, to charge men beforehand to be ready: Which being soon perceived by the people, most of the Trades­men and other Inhabitants, instantly either deserted the Town, or hid themselves as before. About ten of the Clock, old Battison, with the Souldiers, and some Constables, whom he had warned over-night to be in readiness, marcheth up the High-street; where he levieth the Fine of five pounds upon John Fen, the Haberdasher of Hatts before­mentioned, at whose House the Meeting was; taking away all the Hats in his Shop, and the next day carted away his Houshold-Goods, because there was but twenty nine Hats in the Shop, beside Hatbands, that they took away. Having thus dealt with this Hatter, he proceeds to deal the same measure to another Hatter, one Samuel Fen, who was also fined five pounds, and dealt with as his Brother before him, finding no more favour from them than the former.

The next Fine they proceed to levy, was forty shillings upon the Goods of one Thomas Woodward, a Malster: but one Richard Layfield being in possession of the Malthouse, to whom the Maltster had (some time before) sold all his Malt, and quitted the possession; Old Battison met with a stop, and was perswaded to defer distreyning, till Richard Layfield, who had bought the Malt, had spoken with the Justices, then met at the Swan: forthwith the said Layfield applyed to the Justices, [...]cquaints them that Thomas Woodward ( bona fide) did owe him sixty [Page 9] pounds, that he had formerly lent him in money, and that the said Thomas Woodward was bound to deliver two hundred ninety odd quar­ters of Malt to others, for Money and Barley received of them; and therefore upon condition that the said Layfield should acquit him of the said sixty pound debt, and oblige himself to deliver the two hundred ninety odd quarters of Malt to the several persons interessed in them, he did sell and deliver to him the said Richard Layfield, all the Malt lying in his Malthouse, and Barley left, and that there was no fraud herein; All the persons to whom the two hundred ninety and odd quarters of Malt were due, were ready to make oath of the truth of their Debts; the said Richard Layfield did also produce the Deed to the Justices, and averred that the reason of making this Bar­gain, was to secure his sixty pound, which he thought might otherwise be hazarded. But notwithstanding all this, Sir George Blundell, one of the Justices, said; That Richard Layfield went about herein to defraud the King, and therefore bound him over to the next Assizes; and fur­ther said, that so long as Thomas Woodward aforesaid offended, the Malt should be distreyned, and that he would leave them (meaning the Meeters) worth nothing; And when he had done that, he would fill the P [...]isons with them: adding moreover, If they do not like it, Let them stand up and defend themselves, as we did.

There were no further Distresses made the last week; it is conjectu­red that some falling out betwixt the Mayor and Mr. Foster on Wed­nesday, was the occasion to delay their proceedings; It seems the Mayor was not willing that Battison (who is Churchwarden for Pauls) should distreyn in the two Parishes on the other side of the River where the Mayor lived: But on Monday the 30th instant, Feckman the chief Apparitor, with the Churchwarden, Constable, and Over­seer of Mary's Parish in Bedford, began to distrein. The persons name is Joseph Ruffhead at whose House they first began; the Fine they levied upon him was three pound; the said Ruffhead upon their approach to him desired to see their Warrant, wherein not finding Feckmans name, he discharged him from coming upon his Ground, and therefore was had to one of the Justices; before whom making good his practice in keeping Feckman from his Ground, because not in the Warrant, was told by the Justice, that Feckman came only as an Assistant to the Officers. Whereupon the said Ruffhead returning back permitted them to take their Distress; who took two Timber-Trees of about seven pound value, for the three pound. The same [Page 10] day the same Officers went to distreyn one John Clerke, a Grocer, for forty shillings; and breaking open his Doors, they took his Houshold­goods, not medling with those in his Shop, being but of little value. And from thence the same Officers went to the House of John Rush Waggoner, to levy a Distress of three pounds set upon him, where they seized a new Cart and Wheels for the same.

The same day at part of a Village called Cotten-End, near Bedford, the Officers of the same, by Warrant from the Justices, distreyned several persons, who had been convicted by the Justices, for having a Meeting at the House of one Thomas Thorowgood; which persons were fined to a greater value than the whole of their Estates did amount to; and this day they are stripped of their whole substance; and the said Thorowgood hath not left him so much as his Loom to work with, being a Weaver; and by his labour therein supporting himself and his Family.

But because there are several remarkable Circumstances relating to this matter, which do clearly evince the undue and most inhumane dealings of some of the Justices, especially of Sir George Blundell, with the poor people last mentioned; here is therefore inserted a particular and exact Account of the whole Proceeding, as follow­eth.

From the discourse of a little Child, who said there had been a Meeting at the House of Thomas Thorowgood in Cotten-End; the Wife of John Pryor Victualler, resorts to Sir G. B. and makes Oath of the Child's Report to her, who issues a Warrant for the appearance of several persons of that En [...]ship, suspected to have been there, who appeared before several Justices at the Swan in Bedford, before whom none that were examined confessed a Meeting to have been, or that they were there: the Justices dealt with them severally, assuring them that such of them as would confess who was the Preacher, should be acquitted: but no confession was made; and generally they did refer to any proof that could be brought against them, not being willing to accuse themselves or others. The Justices upon consideration did conclude, that there was ground sufficient to convict them; and did assess Fines upon them severally. Thomas Thorowgood's Fine (at whose House the Meeting was said to be) was Nineteen pounds; who was by the Officers distreyned, and all that he had, with the Implements of his Trade (he being a Weaver) taken from him, and the said Thorowgood with his Wife is since departed away from their dwel­ling and gone.

[Page 11] The Wife of one George Winright, and a Son-in-law of Winrights, were fined ten pounds five shillings, as having been at the Meeting. The said George Winright is Tenant to the Earl of Exeter, and being in Arrears of Rent to his said Landlord, about Michelmas last, for his said Landlords security of receiving Rent then due, and such further as for the year ensuing would be accrewing, the said Winright prevail­ed with two Sons-in-law of his, to become bound for him to the Earl's Steward, then upon the place, for his quarterly payment of mo­ney due; and for the indempnity of his two Sons, in respect of the said Bond, the said Winright by Bill of Sale passeth over all his Goods and Chattels to the two Sons, one whereof lived with him, in the possession of what was so sold, from the time of the said Sale; but it happened that the Son who lived with him, staying out from home at a Fair the third of May, kept at a Village about two miles from Cotten-end, the Father-in-law took such displeasure that he broke open the Son's Coffer standing in the House, took out the Writing and de­stroyed it: the Son remains still with his Father, and was fined ten pounds for being at a Meeting. The Father pleads there were no Goods of the Son's there, though they were once his with his Bro­thers, yet the Writing was since destroyed, and sets forth the matter of Fact. The cancelling of the Writing was deemed Collusion, and the Officers were ordered to proceed in the Distress. Winright there­upon driveth away his Cattel, sells several of them at Potten Market, and some not sold there, he sells to one Miller, an Inhabitant of the same Parish, for a valuable rate; who paid good part of the money, and gave Bond for the remainer to Winright (the said Cattel being in Miller's Grounds and Possession several dayes) which being heard of, Sir G. B. sends a Warrant for both the Buyer and Seller to appear before him, to whom they gave information of the sale and the pay­ment. But all their Pleas being unregarded, the said Knight demand­ed Sureties of them for their appearance at the Assizes, declaring with his wonted vehemence he would bind them both over, and di­streyn the Cattel likewise: whereat the said Winright being affright­ed, promised to pay the ten pounds, and accordingly did so; but some few dayes after, being told by a Lawyer that he had wrong in so doing, he repairs to Sir G. B. acquainting him with what the Law­yer had said, entreating his favour: which without delay he im­parted, beating him well for his pains.

Thomas Langley, an Inhabitant of Cotton-End, likewise being fined five pound ten shillings, for his being at the aforesaid suspected [Page 12] Meeting, presuming upon the favour of Sir G. B. (to whom he stood in late relation as a Servant) told the Officers he would pay the money, if he could not get abatement of Sir G. B. to whom repairing, and not pre­vailing for any such-like kindness, he was unwilling to pay the said Fine, having very little Stock, and owing for the greatest part of that, and much likewise in arrears to his Landlord: but the Officers having strict charge to go take all he had, and sell it for five pounds ten shillings, they distreyned his three Cows, really worth ten pound, and going to sell them, a Neighbour in compassion to the Distreyned, paid the Officer five pound ten shillings, and sent the Cows home to the right owner.

Some other persons of the said Endship were distreyned by the Of­ficers, and had that little substance they had taken from them, and deposited by the Officers in the house of the aforesaid Pryor, whose Wife did at first inform of the said Meeting, where they yet remain to be sold to any willing to buy the same, that with the proportion allotted to the Informer, the said Pryor may again have some money to put into his purse, having prodigally and brutishly wasted all, that he lately sold a considerable Estate for, that lay in the aforesaid End­ship.