A Declaration of the sufferings of several of the people of God (our friends and bre­thren, who work out their salvation with fear and trembling) in New England, and amongst the Dutch inhabiting in that land, the sum of which sufferings are as fol­loweth, the most part of which sufferings have been sustained in twelve moneths.

ELeven strangers which are free-born English received 22. whipings, the stripes amounting to 350. Eleven inhabitants and free-born English re­ceived 16. whippings, the stripes amounting to 160. Fourty five impris­onments of strangers and inhabitants, amounting to 307. weeks; two beaten with pitch ropea, the blows amounting to 139. by which one of them was brought near unto death; twenty five banishments upon penal­ties if returning, fines laid upon the inhabitants amounting to 318 pound eleven shillings; five kept fifteen dayes in all without food, and fifty eight dayes shut up close by the Goalor, and had none that he knew of; and from some of them he stopt up the windows, hindering them from convenient air; one laid neck and heels for sixteen hours; one very deeply burnt in the right hand with the letter H; one chained the most part of twenty days to a log in an open prison in the Winter; five appeals to England denied at Bosten; three their right ears cut by the Hangman; one of the inhabitants of Salem, had one half of his house and Land seized on, while he was in prison a moneth before he knew of it.

These following sufferings among the Dutch, through the means of one Tho­mas Willet an English man, as it is said, in whom there hath been long an impla­cable enmity against the power of godliness; one beaten with near an hundred blows, with a four inch pitch rope, in which time he fell down twice as one dead, and afterwards was tied up by the hands, & a log tied to his feet and stript to the wast, and whipt with rods by a Negro with stripes without measure; his back, breasts, and arms bleeding, being much cut, and abundance of blood coming from them, and kept about eight weeks in prison, in a dirty miry dungeon, not fit to keep Swine in; three of the inhabitants of that Collony being English, were imprisoned in the Winter in dirty dungeons, and one of them fined fifty pounds.

The causes of the forementioned sufferings are impartially laid down as fol­loweth, and commended to your serious consideration, that whereas the Lord God hath put power into your hands, you may make use of it to his praise and glory, in saving the innocent, and delivering the oppressed, and breaking the yoaks of the oppressor, and standing up in the power of God, to plead the cause of the persecuted people of God; so will the desires of the honest-hearted be to the Lord for you, that you may prosper in your undertakings, and that your eyes may be opened to see what is amiss.

In the year 1656. two women named Mary Fisher, and Anne Austin, who were moved to go to Boston in New England, where they were imprisoned near [Page 2] five weeks, and few or none suffered to come to them, and by order from the Governor and his assistants, their boxes were rifled, and what books was found in them was burnt (which books declared against sin and wickedness) by the hangman, and after sometime, upon suspicion without ground, of the womens being witches, they were stripped stark naked, and searched after such a manner, which modesty cannot particularly mention, but they were so dealt with that one of them who had been the mother of three children, said, she had not been so in the birth of her children, as she was by this inhumane searching, and after this without convincing them of any crime (besides threatening to whip them, they forced the Master of the ship to send them back to Barbados (according to their order) upon his own charge from whence he brought them.

Soon after this there came to Boston in a London ship eight more of the people called Quakers, and after some slight examination of them, and neer eleven weeks imprisonment, wherein few were suffered to speak with them, except it were to ensnare them, and several abuses they suffered, as the taking away of their things; the Master that carried them was forced to bring them again to England, and was imprisoned four dayes, for not yeilding at first to their de­mand; so these eight also were violently sent away without any crime worthy of banishment laid to their charge.

Nicholas Vp shall an inhabitant in Boston, an ancient weak man of age sixty years, and of an honest report, for declaring against an oppressive law, and an act invented in their wills (before his door with the beating of a Drum) against them that are called Quakers, wherein they were called a cursed sect of hereticks and blasphemers, and great penalties laid upon any who should bring them in­to their jurisdiction, and that the Quakers should be put in prison and whipt, &c.) was imprisoned and fined twenty pounds, and ordered to banishment in a months time, and not to return under pain of imprisonment, untill he did con­fess his fault in declaring against their law, and before the time was out of his departure, they sent for him and sined him three pounds more for not coming to their worship, according to their law, five shillings for every first dayes absence from their meeting; so the old man went into Plimouth Pattent, which is the next Collony, determining there to stay that Winter, the which the Governor thereof (being an unreasonable man) sought by all means to hinder him, but thorow the moderation of some of the Magistrates, he was suffered to stay, but in the spring he was forced away, and this was in the Winter time which is so cold in those parts that it is dangerous to travel; the consideration of these things have made us to think, that pitty is wholly departed from them.

In part of the year 1657. and 1658. these followings sufferings were sustained by some strangers who are called Quakers, who in obedience to the Lord went to New England, and also by some inhabitants in the same land who suffered for the exercise of a pure conscience.

Christopher Holder, and Iohn Copeland for going to an Iland called Martins Vineyard, had taken from them nine shillings three pence in mony by the Go­vernors order, & delivered unto some Indians to carry them off the Iland, among whom they found more kindness then among their own professing Country men, and afterwards for being taken in Plimouth Pattent, they were had before the Court, and sent away above fifty miles as vagabonds.

Also Humphery Norton for being taken at Sandwitch on a first day, was carried to Plimouth by the Constable, and there kept prisoner several dayes, and after­wards [Page 3] sent away as a vagabond above fifty miles by the under Marshall; William Brend and Iohn Copeland, for not going out of Plimouth Collony in fourty eight hours, as required of the Magistrates, the weather not being seasonable for tra­velling, it being very wet and in the depth of Winter, were whipt with rods, Will. Brend received ten stripes, and Jo. Copeland twenty two stripes backward & fore­ward, drawing blood of back, breasts, and armes, and this cruelty did they on them without any law, saving their own wills, although the prisoners strongly pleaded Olivers Instrument of Government, which gives liberty to all profes­sing faith in Christ Jesus &c. but that was not regarded by them, though they profess themselves to be under the Government of England.

William Nuland and Ralph Allin inhabitant of Sandwitch in Plimouth Collo­ny, for entertaining those who are called Quakers, and having meetings at their houses, and denying to swear, and refusing to give in security for the good be­haviour, were fined twenty shillings a piece, for which was taken from William Nuland a Heifer better worth then thirty shillings, and their bodies imprisoned near five moneths in the depth of Winter near thirty miles from their wives and families, which were great, having many small children, which did prove much to their damage, and at their first moneth Court, in the year 1658. were cleared without any crime laid to their charge yet according to the Governors order were to pay five shillings for their commitment, and five shillings for their release­ment, and five shillings for every day of their imprisonment, the which they denied, yet did they satisfie the Marshal for their diet to his content.

Peter Gaunt, Daniel Wing, Ralph Allin, and Will. Allin inhabitants of Sandwitch, were summoned to the Court held at Plimouth, in the first moneth 1658. under the pretence of fellony according to their law, for breaking into a mans house, where the man of the house cleared them, and the Governor told them there was a mistake in the sammons, yet for not putting off their hats, he fined them twenty shillings a piece, for which was taken from them to the value of five pounds, and at this Court they made a Law against friends, laying both fines and other sufferings upon both inhabitants and strangers, who should meet together for the worship of God contrary to their form; The sufferers under this Law follow.

Humphery Norton and Iohn Rous for going to the Town of Plimouth, were apprehended and put in prison and had two examinations, wherein were many false charges laid against them, and Io. Rous did much plead with them for that liberty which free-born English men ought to have, yet of it was denied, and further to ensnare them, had an oath of the Magistrates own making tendered to them, the which they refusing, because they could not swear for conscience sake, the Governor called H.N. a Jesuite, and said he looked upon Io. Rous as Jesuated, and so caused Hum. Nerton to be whipt with twenty three stripes, and Iohn Rous with fifteen, and returned them to prison again for not giving them money.

At this Court there was three of the inhabitants of Sandwitch put in the stocks for taking Iohn Rous by the hand, after he came from before the Court. On the seventh of the fourth moneth 1658. being the first day of the week, which they call their Sabbath, some friends were met together to wait upon the Lord at Sand­witch, and by order from the Court, did the Constable come among them, and warn 14. of them to be at Plimouth by the next day at noon, which was twenty miles distant, the most of them that was summoned appeared at the time and [Page 4] place appointed, where they were fined five pound a piece, for refusing to take an oath which the Magistrates would impose on them without any order from the powers of England, and for refusing it, great havock was made of their estates.

Christopher Holder and Iohn Copeland, for being taken going to a meeting at Sandwitch, was kept by the Marshall prisoners several days, and afterwards re­ceived with a threefold whip thirty three stripes, to the wounding of the hearts of several, so that a woman who was a stranger to them cryed out in the grief of her soul, and anguish of her spirit beholding the cruelty that then was acted) and said, How long Lord! how long will it be, ere thou avenge the blood of thine elect! and after bewailing her self, and lamenting her loss, said to this pur­pose, Did I forsake father and mother, and all my dear relations, to come to New England for this? did I ever think that New England would come to this? Who would have thought it? We could desire that the same sensibleness did en­ter into the hearts of all to whom this doth come, and then would those who are in power here, make the condition of their suffering friends their own, and stand up in the power of God, and plead the cause of the oppressed, that so the warth of the wicked may be stopped, and the innocent may be delivered out of his power.

Again sixteen of the inhabitants of Sandwitch were summoned to the Court held at Plimouth, in the eighth moneth 1658. and there were fined five pound a piece for not swearing, the which they could not do for conscience sake; in the gathering of these fines, with the others before mentioned, the violence follow­ing was done.

Edward Perry for not swearing, fined fifteen pounds, for which they took from him five Cows and two Heifers, worth twenty seven pounds, without shewing any Warrant for what was done by them that took them.

Robert Harper for not swearing, fined ten pounds, and had two young Oxen and two Heifers taken from him, worth thirteen pounds.

Ralph Allin for not swearing, fined ten pounds, and had cattle taken from him, marked for the Country, worth eleven pounds ten shillings.

Thomas Greenfeild for not swearing, fined ten pounds, and taken in cattle and other goods from him, eleven pounds in value.

Richard Kirby for not swearing, fined fifteen pounds, and had four Cows and one Calf taken for it, worth sixteen pounds.

William Allin for the same, fined ten pounds, and two Cows and a Steer ta­ken for it, worth thirteen pounds, he was also fined five pound more on the same account, but of the taking of that, we have not yet an account.

Mathew Allin for the same, fined ten pounds, and had three Cows taken from him for it, worth twelve pounds.

Daniel Wing for the same, fined ten pounds, and had for it taken to the value of twelve pounds.

George Allin for the same, fined five pound, and had cattle taken from him worth six pound.

William Gifford for the same, fined ten pounds, and had goods taken for it worth twelve pounds.

Thomas Ewer, a poor laboring man, who got his living by day-labor, for re­fusing to swear, had seven pounds stopt in one Richard Chadwells hand, which for­merly he had earned, and for not satisfying their wills, they took the value of ten shillings from him.

At the eighth moneth Court, because friends did not straight way go out of [Page 5] the Court, to the satisfying Thomas Princes hasty will, he cast three of them into prison, where they were kept several days in the cold weather from their families.

From three of the inhabitants of Sandwitch, for not satisfying their wills, was taken to the value of twenty one shillings.

Iohn Ienkins, a very poor man, for not satisfying their wills, had his pot ta­ken from him that he used to dress his meat in.

Arthur Howland, a man of seventy years of age, and one that had suffered under the Bishops, for not delivering up one Robert Hodgshons to the Constable at his demand, without a Warrant, was fined five pound, for which was distrain­ed from him a Steer and a Bull worth more; again such was their malice against this old man, that they attempted to cast him into prison, in the cold Winter season, and he desired rather that he might have liberty to repair to England to make his case known to the powers here, but was not permtited, but had been cast into prison had not two of his brethren out of pitty to his old age engaged for him.

Also for a small matter which they required of him for the Priest, in the spring time they took from him the Iron furni [...]ure, belonging to his draught, for want of which (although it was a thing of small value, yet hard to be had in those parts) the old man was much damnified.

Henry Howland his brother, in the Town of Duxbery, for having a meeting at his house, and not serving on the Jury, was fined one pound ten shillings, and had is taken from him.

Surely if the New Englands professors care was as great to pay what they owe unto all men, as they are to lay fines upon tender consciences, and to take from them more then their sines come to, their creditors both in old England and else­where, would have little cause to complain of them, but that spirit which leads to do justice in all things, is quite cast out from among them, both Church, Court, and Country, and that is the reason why so many have cause to complain of them in this particular.

The particulars of these forementioned sufferings, were most of them given under the hands of the sufferers, who several of them are mean in the outward, and are by probability likely to be ruinated as to the outward (with their families, many of them having very many small children) if some course be not taken to prevent the course of these unmerciful men.

They that have been the chief authors of these sufferings, are, Thomas Prince Governor, Iohn Aldon, Tho. Willet, Will. C [...]er, Iosiah Winslow, Thomas South­worth, Tho. Hinckley, &c. Magistrates, who are violent persecutors of the good people in Plimouth Pattent, making a prey upon some, and keeping others in such fear, that they have much wronged their consciences; and that nothing might be wanting by them to trouble the honest people, they made one George Barloe one of their Marshals, extraordinary, finding him to be a man of a spirit fit for their purpose, who hath (before he was in place) been ready upon all oc­casions to joyn with the Constable to hunt the Lambs of Christ, and hinder their peaceable meeting together; and since he hath been in power, he hath made use of it to the utmost, to disturbe friends when they have been quietly met toge­ther to wait upon the Lord, and when to avoid his troublesome spirit they have with-drawn into the woods, then hath it been his work to hunt after them, ma­king their Sabbath a day of hunting, & being forwarded in his wickedness by the Magistrates, he hath not ceased much to abuse friends; as once late in the night broke open a friends door at Sandwitch, and went into most of the rooms in the [Page 6] house, under a pretence to search for Quakers, although there was none in the house at that time that he searched for; and the enmity in him is so high, that he said he would not leave them worth a groat; but he is a fit man for such a work, having formerly suffered the terrors of God for his uncleanness with an Indian as he said himself, but now his conscience is seared.

Humphrey Norton for coming into a Town called Southold in the evening on long Iland, intending in the will of God next day to pass away, was apprend­ed, and carried to New Haven, and there kept the most part of twenty dayes and nights in an open prison in the Winter season, with his legg chained to a log of wood, in which time he was examined, and sentenced by Francis New­man and his assistants (who are Magistrates for New Haven Collony) to be whipt, which was done with thirty six stripes, as the standers-by said; but had been more if a woman had not asked, whether they would kill him. 2. To be burnt in the hand with the letter H. which was cruelly executed on his right hand very deep. 3. Banished him, not to return, but upon the utmost sensure of the Court. 4. To pay ten pounds as a fine, for which a Dutchman, contrary to H. Nortons consent, paid them twenty nobles.

Sarah Gibbens and Dorothy Waugh, for going to Hartford in Connecticut Col­lony, were imprisoned several days, and after had some of their cloaths taken from them, and sold to pay their sees.

These following sufferings in Boston Pattent, called Masachusets Bay.

Mary Clark a modest and innocent woman, searing God with all he house, for going to Boston in obedience to the Lord, was whipt with twenty stripes, with a threefold whip, and kept a prisoner above twelve weeks.

Christopher Holder and Iohn Copeland for being at Salem meeting, a Town in Boston Collony, and Christopher speaking to the people after the Priest had done, one Brown a Commissioner caught hold of his hair, and plucked him back­ward by it, and for want of a better argument to stop his mouth with, he clapt his gloves on it, and a little after they were apprehended by the Constable, and carried prisoners to Boston, and there received thirty stripes a piece with their threefold whip, which cruelty so seized on a woman that stood by, that she fell down as one dead; to which they added nine weeks imprisonment in very cold weather, suffering none to come to them, in which time they were kept up in a close room three days and three nights without bread or water, onely once a prisoner gave them a little water, for which the Gaolor threatned him, and this was because they were not free to work, that the Gaolor might have eight pence out of every shilling they earned, but they did not refuse to work so as to earn their diet, and being called before the Governor and Magistrates, the Governor told them they deserved to be hanged, because they in a paper warned the people not to joyn with their Rulers in what they did, it being contrary to the spirit that gave forth the Scriptures; all this they suffered, not having in the least been charged with the transgression of any righteous law.

Cassandria Southick an inhabitant of Salem, for entertaining the two before mentioned, was kept in prison neer seven weeks, and for owning a paper of their giving forth, was fined fourty shillings, the which they took.

Richard Dowdney being travelling in obedience to the movings of God upon him towards Boston, was apprehended in an Ordinary, in a Town called Ded­ham, and from thence had to Boston, before the Court there sitting, who caused him to be searched, and took from him what papers they would, and also judg­ed [Page 7] him to be whipt with thirty cruel stripes, the which was done within three hours after his coming thither, and continued him about twenty dayes in prison.

A little before the releasement of the forementioned sufferers (to wit) Mary Clark, Chr. Holder, Iohn Copeland, Rich. Dowdney and Cas. Southick, they had them before a Court in Boston, who read unto them another law, which they called an addition to the former law, which was made in the eighth moneth 1656. under which law friends had suffered most cruelly; they added yet fur­ther to their cruelty this law, which they made in the eighth month 1657. which saith, That every male Quaker having once suffered the law of whipping, for coming gain into their Collony, shall have one of his ears cut, and for coming again the third time, shall have his other ear cut off, and every woman Quaker shall be whipt severely every time she comes, untill the fourth time of her com­ing, and then the man and the woman both, shall have their tongues bored through with a hot Iron; and all this cruelty for only coming into their Collony, yet say they every Quaker arising among our selves, shall be alike used as the law provides against foraign Quakers.

Lawrence Southick and Cassandria his wise, and Iosiah their son, inhabitants of Salem, for saying that the Rulers and Priests, and laws were bloody, were taken from their families and occasions, and carried them to Boston, where they were whipt with ten stripes a piece, and kept prisoners several days in the twelfth mo­neth 1657. and when they were let out, order was given that they should not stay above an hour in any house, under the penalty of their law, which is four­ty shillings an hour for any that conceal or entertain Quakers.

William Maston an inhabitant of Hampton in Boston Collony, for having two small books which declared against sin in his house, was fined ten pounds, the which they took from him, and for their Priest, and for not going to their wor­ship, they fined him eight pounds, and for visiting friends in prison, he was kept in prison two weeks, and threatned to be laid in Irons, and this was in very cold weather.

William Shattuck an inhabitant of Boston, for not coming to their meeting at Boston, was whipt with ten stripes, and kept in prison several days, in the first moneth 1658. and afterwards banished from his wife and family, in which time Richard Bellingham Deputy-governor, used his utmost endeavor to set his wise and children against him, biding them disown him.

Sarah Gibbens and Dorothy Waugh for going to the meeting house at Boston, were whipt with ten stripes a piece, and for refusing to work for the Gaolor, were kept several days and nights without eating any thing, and to prevent their friends from conveying any thing to them, the Goalor nailed up the window where they were, and he told them they should leave their carcasses behind them.

Horred Gardiner an inhabitant of Newport upon Road Island, and a mother of many children, for going to the meeting house of Weymouth in Boston Col­lony, was carried to Boston, and there whipt with ten stripes, and the maid that helped her to carry her sucking child, was whipt also, and continued in prison about fourteen days.

Thomas Harris for going to the Steeple-house at Boston was put in prison, and whipt with ten stripes, and for not working for the Gaolor, was [...]ept near five days and five nights without any food, so that by probability he had perished [Page 8] had not a friend relieved him in the night season; and at another time had two and twenty blows laid on him with a pitch rope by the Gaolor.

Sometime after Tho. Harris was committed to prison, William [...]rend and Will. Leddra were sent to Boston from Salem Court, for being taken at Newberry, and there were whipt with ten stripes a piece, and for refusing to work for the Gaolor, they were kept several days without any food that the Gaolor knew of; a little after they were whipt, the Gaolor laid William Brend neck and heels (as it is called) sixteen hours according to his own words, and seeing that would not do, the next day the Gaolor laid on him 117. blows with a pitch rope, and had laid more if his rope had held, and threatned to do the same again to him and the o­ther friend the next day, and when he had done went into his house to his prayers; not long after, the life was near departing out of Williams body, and notice be­ing given in the Town, many came to see him, where they beheld the sad spectacle of a Church-members cruelty, and great indignation arose in the mo­derate spirited people against the Gaolor; this thing being done, the Governor and his assistants made a shew as if it were not done by their order (but did seem to be against it, and to promise the people that justice should be done on the Gaolor) but the Gaolors wife was heard to say that they were still putting her husband on to beat the quakers, and now he had done it they would not stick by him: The next first day in the forenoon, a note was put up at their meeting-house, declaring that the Gaolor should be brought to a tryal, but in the after­noon another was stuck up which made the former null and void; after their even sacrifice was done, as was related to us, a member of their Church at Be­ston stood up, desiring that the Gaolor might be dealt with for what he had done, and their chief Priest Iohn Norton stood up in opposition, and said to this pur­pose, That William Brend had labored to beat their Ordinances black and blew, and what if the Gaolor had beat him black and blew, and if William Brend had died, he would stand up for the Gaolor, and if they dealt with him he would leave them; and since we have not heard that the Gaolor was checked in the least by the Rulers for what he had done, but their carriage towards him doth plainly shew, that what he hath done they approve of, and since they have en­deavored to make a shew as if it was less then was reported, but it was so bad that one Clark a Chyrurgian and a member of their Church, said, it was a mi­racle if ever he recovered, for the flesh was so bruised, that he expected it should rot off the bones; and of this there is many witnesses in Boston and else­where, but after sometime through the love of God, William was restored to health.

The Gaolor having thus cruelly nigh murdered William Brend, great compas­sion arose in several of the inhabitatants of Boston, who in some measure mini­stred to his necessities for the relief of the outward man, for which five of them were presented; so they will neither shew mercy themselves nor suffer others.

Samuel Shattuck, Ioshua Buffum and Samuel Gaskin, inhabitants of Salem, for being taken at a meeting, where the two forementioned were, were sent to pri­son to Boston, without any fair tryal or question asked them concerning Religi­on, where they were whipt with ten stripes a piece, and kept neer a month from their families and occasions in the beginning of harvest.

Lawrence Southick and Cassandra his wife, and Iosiah their son, for being taken at the same meeting, were put in prison and there kept sixteen weeks, and Cas­sandra whipt with ten stripes, all this time not suffering them at all to go to their [Page 9] families, although it was desired: in which time it being harvess, they lost the reaping of a Meddow, of which formerly they have had twenty load of hay in a year, for want of which their cattle was likely to perish in Winter: by the means of this their restraint, their estate is much run to ruin, and some fines were levied, and after all this they were let forth, not as Quakers; so here they have proved all their former sufferings to be without cause and illegal.

Also at one of their Courts they put a daughter of the forementioned old peoples in the stocks, for telling the Magistrates when she was called before them, that they persecuted her father and mother.

The next day after Will. Brends great sufferings, Humphery Norton and Iohn Rous, were moved to go to Boston to their meeting-house, out of which they were haled to prison; and from thence before the Magistrates, where several questions were asked them, and seeing that they altogether were set to do mis­chief, the prisoners appealed to the chief powers of England, desiring to have their cause tryed here, but that was slighted by them, and reply made, no ap­pealing from this Court to England; so they were sentenced to be severely whipt, the which was done with ten stripes a piece on them, so hard as they could be laid on by the arm of a bitter spirited man; the Governor and Deputy-Gover­nor, for all the sufferings of Wil. [...]rend, not having as yet satisfied themselves with blood, gave forth a Warrant to this effect, That the Quakers now in prison, for being obstinate and refusing to work, should be whipt once in three dayes, the first time with fifteen stripes; and the second time with eighteen, and the third time with twenty one stripes, and so adding three every time till further order; the which was executed upon four of the prisoners, before their former stripes was healed, which caused pitty to arise in some, who contrary to the prisoners consent, hired their Marshal at an unreasonable rate to convey them out of their Collony.

Also Nicolas Phelps an inhabitant of Salem, and a man of a very weak body, was carried from his house and family to Ipswitch-court in the time of harvest, and committed to the house of correction, where he was whipt three times in five days with ten stripes at a time, and after about fourteen days imprisonment, was released without the least crime laid to his charge, which might occasion such sufferings.

Christopher Holder and Iohn Copeland going to Boston, according to the mo­vings of God, was taken up at a Town called Dedham, and from thence by a Constable was had to Bosion before the Governor, who committed them to prison, where they suffered much cruelty, and after three weeks imprisonment, Iohn Rous for going to Boston was apprehended at an Inne, and put in prison al­so, and after thirteen days; they were called before the Court of Assistants, where they were much railed at and reviled, and after three days were called before the Court again, between which two tryals they had a fast in Boston, which proved like Iezebels fast for the sheding the blood of the innocent; at this their second trial the prisoners seeing no justice could be had from them, they were stirred much in their spirits, to make their appeal to England, which was much slighted and disregarded by the Governors and Magistrates, and the prisoners were returned to prison, being sentenced by them to have each of them his right ear cut off by the hangman, and as they were going out of the Court, because one of them put on his hat, the Gaolor struct twice at him with a great stick he had in his hand, [Page 10] and said in the face of the Court, You knave, I could find in my heart to knock you down; but for it he was not checked by them in the least; and after six days imprisonments more, the Marshals deputy, acompained with the hangman, and several hard hearted people came to the prison, where they were, and after they had barred the prison door fast, and let in none but whom they would, not suf­fering any friends to the prisoners to come in, he read his Warrant to the prison­ers, which was to this effect, Commanding him to see the Executioner cut of the right ears of Iohn Copeland, Christopher Holder, and Iohn Rous Quakers, for the breach of the law titled Quakers; and charged them before as blasphemers, but could prove nothing against them, for when according to righteousness the prisoners have expected that the Magistrates should have brought their accusers face to face, and clearly in the sight of the people, convinced them of what they charged on them, which is but equal and just, in stead of this all along, they have entred into a dispute with them, it may be about the hat or some such thing, and when they have disputed with them so long as they have a minde, then what before they have prescribed in their mindes, they have sentenced the persecuted to suffer; and this hath been from time to time the manner of their proceedings against them who are called Quakers in New England; after he had read this Warrant, Io. Rous said, we have appealed to England; the Mar­shal said, I have nothing to do with that, so the Warrant was executed upon the prisoners, by cutting their right ears; and after Christopher Holder and Iohn Copeland had been nine weeks in prison, and Iohn Rous six weeks, they were let out.

Katherin Scot an inhabitant of Providence, and a woman of a blameless con­versation as they themselves confessed, for visiting of the prisoners when their ears were cut, and witnessing against their cruelty, was imprisoned three weeks, and whipt with ten stripes, and great cause had she to witness against their cruel­ty, for the same spirit had banished her sister Anne Hutchinson out of their coasts, because she differed from them in judgement, and imprisoned her chil­dren the most part of a bitter cold Winter, for going to Boston to visit their kin­dred; and Anne Hutchinson being banished from among them, went with her family to dwell under the Dutch Government, where they were cruelly murde­red by the Indians, whose innocent blood crys to the Lord for vengeance upon the persecuting spirit which rules in New England; the truth of the last mention­ed sufferings, and the sad oppression that poor people have born in those parts for conscience sake; Henry Vane is not altogether unacquainted with, for the dislike of which, although he was their governor, yet had he in some measure a taste of what fruites the Spirit of New England yeilds to them that op­pose it.

Sam. Shattuck, Nic. Phelps, and Ioshua Buffum, for being taken at a meeting at Salem, were warned to Ipswitch Court by the Constable, and there appearing Sam. Shat: and Nic. Phelps, was by the Magistrates Daniel Denison and Simon Broadstreet, fined thirty shillings a piece, for being twice at a private meeting, and twice absent from the publike meeting; and Iosh. Buffum fined fifteen shil­lings for the same, and for being Quakers were whipt and kept prisoners, and after three weeks imprisonment, wherein they were kept sometime in the cold weather in a prison which much wanted repair, & for some time the Gaolor would not let them out for extraordinary occasions, they having suffered all this abuse, were let out not as Quakers, the last law being read to them▪ which was made at [Page 11] Boston, wherewith they threaten such who are called Quakers that come into their Jurisdiction with banishment upon pain of death.

Besides the other sufferings that they inflicted upon Samuel Shattuck, as fines, whippings, and several weeks imprisonment from his Family, while hee was by them kept in prison, they seized upon half of his house, and ground belonging to it, a moneth before he knew of it: The report of which coming to him, hee went to the Marshall to know the truth of it, who told him that it was so, and two had been with him to buy it, and that he intended shortly to have it prized, and to put it to sale: The Marshall also having express Order forthwith to strain several fines of the Inhabitants of Salem, which may amount to above one hun­dred pounds; the particulars of which at present we cannot give an account of. All these sufferings in Boston Pattent was Iohn Indicot, Governor, and Rich. Bellingham, Deputy-Governor, Simon Broadstreet, Daniel Dennison, and some o­thers, Magistrates, Authors of, and chief Actors in, who according to the words of the wise man, are as roaring Lyons, and ranging Bears amongst the poor peo­ple.

These following Sufferings were sustained in the New Netherlands.

Robert Hodgshon for being in a town called Hempsted under the Dutch Go­vernment, was apprehended and brought before one Gildersleeve, an English­man, and called a Magistrate, who committed him to custody while he himself rode to the Dutch Governor, and brought the Fisgall and a guard of Musquetiers, who pinioned him, and after an inhuman manner tyed him to a Carts tail, and so brought him to New-Amsterdam, (with two women whom they took hold of for receiving him, the one had a childe then sucking) where Robert was cast into a dirty Dungeon; and after twice calling him before them, an Accusation was read unto him in Dutch, and all that was interpreted by Tho­mas Willes their Interpreter, was this; It is the Generalls pleasure, seeing you have behaved your selfe thus, that you are to work two yeers at a Wheelbarrow with a Negto, or pay, or cause to be paid 600 Gilders; and for refusing to work, they caused a Negro to beat him with a pitch rope nigh four inches about, till he fell down twice as one dead: And feeing that they could not accomplish their ends thus, after some time keeping him in their dirty dungeon, and not suf­fering him to have convenient food to sustain the outward man, he was carried into a private room, and there was tyed up by the hands, and a log of wood tyed to his feet, and stripped naked to his waste, and a strong Negro caused to lay a­bundance of stripes on him with rods both backwards and forwards, so that back, breast, and arms were grievously cut, and much blood run from him, and after a while they loosed him, after two dayes he was tyed again as before, and whipt; and after a while, he desired some time of consideration; and having in­quired of God what to do in this case, he had liberty to work; and after this an English-woman came to wash his stripes, who seeing him so low in body, told her husband she feared he would not live till the morrow; but after a few dayes, Robers was through the love of God restored to health again, and after a while through the means of the Governors sister, was set at liberty. It is thought by severall moderate people, that Captain Willet, an English-man, and one of Plymouth Magistrates, was the cause of these sufferings, by incensing the Dutch Governor with several false reports of them that are called Quakers; for a little [Page 12] before this, Robert was with the Dutch-Governor, and the Governor was very moderate to him but since through misinformation, such a deadly enmity is grown up in him, that upon all occasions he doth seek to ruinate those that do receive or own the Quakers; and for this purpose hath made a Law, that those that receive any Quakers into their houses shall pay 50. l. the third part of which the Informer is to have, and to be concealed; and if any Vessel should bring a Quaker into their Jurisdiction, it should be forfeited with the goods. Great are the sufferings of the English under the Dutch in those parts, they waiting to make a prey upon them upon all occasions, especially the honest part, and we know that it would be a great joy of heart to many there, if the Powers of En­gland would take the Government of the English upon them, that so they might be eased of the yoke under which for some time they have served, they being liable to great fines and abuses upon every occasion which the Dutch will take. Two maids, named Mary Weatherhead, and Dororhy Waugh, for speaking in the street of New-Amsterdam, were cast into two Dungeons apart, which were so nasty, that several thought they could not live in them; and after eight dayes im­prisonment were led through the street with rods tyed to their backs, to a boat that wa [...] to go to Road-Iland, and were therein put.

Iohn Tilton and Ioan Chatterton for receiving them that are called Quakers, were imprisoned.

Tobias Feak and Edward Hars, because they could not prosecute the Dutch-Governors Order against the Quakers so called, were cast into prison, being Of­ficers and Inhabitants of the town called Vlishing.

Henry Townesend for receiving some friends into his house was fined 50 l. for not paying of which, he was cast into a miery Dungeon in the winter season, and for his releasment (his wise and friends searing his welfare in that nasty place, and the season being so cold) took a pair of young Oxen and a Horse, al­though he had no more, and gave them to the persecutors to free him out of prison.

All the Sufferings that were sustained in Boston Pattent were private, some­times with the doors of the prisons fast shut, and many times very few by when they acted their cruelty, the persecutors taking their time to do it privately.

And of all the Warrants that have been given out against them that have suffe­red in Boston-Pattent ever since the sixth moneth 1657. they have not had one copy from their persecutors, although many times it hath been asked for by them; but their laws being things whi [...]h were more publike, copies of them the Suffe­rers got, but none saw one from their persecutors, and for that though it was short was paid one shilling, six pence; and if it be your desires to see their Laws, wherein they have far out-stripped the Bishops, as well as in theri cruelty, we the Subscribers knowing your desires in it, shall produce them, desiring that as in the acting of their cruelty they covered themselves with darkness, so that now their deeds may be throughly brought to light, that so the simple and honest hearted in this Nation, who have heard much of the fame of their profession, and think they still stand as they did, may see and know upon what ground they now stand, whose thirst will not be satisfied without blood.

And friends, whereas there is and hath been a great talk of the conversion of the Indians in New-England, and many out of their desire to forward such a work, have largely given towards it, and a great shaw of a glorious conversion a­mong them have severall of the New-England priests made, but it is for their [Page 13] own ends, they being fed with great sums of money, for which they must make a shew of something; but this can we testifie, having been often among them, That the greatest conversion that is wrought among them is, they are converted from their former simplicity, into subtilty, deceit, and hypocrisie: And what more can be expected, whilst they are under such a Ministery as is upheld by cru­elty, and whose life and livelihood stands in these things before-mentioned? and as for the profession or talk of God which they have learned of the English it is but as a Tradition; for Iohn Rous being at a friends house in Sandwitch, where one of them who are called Christian Indians came: he being desirous to see if any thing of God was stirring among them, he asked the Indian where God dwelt? he pointed over his head, and said in heaven, as ignorant people use to answer: I. R. asked him how he knew? the Indian answered, He would tell him if he had his book, so he shewed wherein his knowledge of God stood. And at another time, I. R. met with another Indian at the same house, and asked him if hee were a Christian? he answered I: And whether hee knew Christ? He said I: So I R. asked him, If he ever saw Christ? The Indian said, No: So I.R. told him, if hee had not seen Christ hee did not know him; to which the Indian could not tell what to answer: Many instances of the like nature might be written, As when some of them have been asked, Who did tell them such a thing? They have answered, Mr. Ellios, or Mr. Maho, or some other, shewing that they knew no other Teacher to guide them or instruct them. And seeing & knowing the deceit and badness of the New-England Priests, in causing people to believe that which is not true, through their boasting of high things, which never as yet were done by them, in faithfulness we write this for the laying open of all deceit, and for the information of the honest-hearted, that they may not be made a prey upon any longer by the Priests; for if they will preach among the Indians they should do it freely: And friends, wee do believe that if such a course as this were taken, that if that mony which is set apart for the converting of the Indians (as it is thought) were committed to the hands of such here as will be faithful in laying it out, upon such things as the Indians need, as cloath­ing, &c. and that it be sent over to New-England, and there faithfully given forth amongst them as their need shall be; the English also themselves shewing forth a good life and conversation among them, more good by this means will be done to the converting of them, and far more glory will be brought to God, then hath as yet been through all the preaching of the Priests, for their talking doth but beget into a form, but this would beget into the power, and bring them to desire to know the God whom such serveth. And whereas some may say, If this be done, the Ministers will want encouragement to labor to convert them: Truly to such we answer, When the time of their converting to the power of God comes, those Ministers that will be imployed in that work, will not need encou­ragement from man; for if men doth not seek to hinder them, they shall not need to encourage them, for they will be such as dwell in the power of God, and by it are guided, the nature of which is to carry on those that are led by it, with all courage and valour to do that which they are called to, and their reward is with God; but the earthly spirit must have earthly encouragement, or it will faint; but that which is put into their mouths, is as water which is cast upon a dry barren howling wilderness which cannot be satisfied: therefore might it be more serviceable either to make use of it to a better use then at present it is, or let faith­ful men be imployed in this business, that so the catterpillars and devourers may [Page 14] be famished. And truly with sadness may it be said, that more evil have, they learned from the English then good, for drunkenness and severall other things which are evill, were not among them before the English came into the Land, which since is increased, it is like, those who have part in this gain will rise up against us, as Demetrius did against Paul for fear of losing their gain; but we are wel satisfied, that when the hidden things of darkness shal be brought to light, that then abundance of deceit will be found in this design of seeming converting of the Indians; and if you desire a further testimony of the truth of this, we do believe that there are many in several parts of New-England, for the laying o­pen of deceit, will give under their hands what further they know concerning this matter: And this is not written out of prejudice to any mans person, but in love to the simple that the deceitful spirit may be discovered, and truth may be made manifest to all, and all occasions of stumbling which may hinder any from coming to the knowledge of God and Christ Jesus the light, may be removed out of the way of all, whether Jew or Gentile, Turk or Indian; for there is a seed a­mong them which must be gathered.

And friends, having in short laid before you these sufferings which have been met with by the innocent in New-England, with the grounds and causes accor­ding to the truth, which truly we should have said little of, were it not for the sake of those that may follow us, who may drink the same cup, and more bitter if the rage of the wicked be not stopt; for according to the Law at Boston, if a man come into their colony that saith thou to a single person, or keeps on his hat before one they call his Superior, or doth not acknowledge a Trinity of per­sons, &c. which we read not of in Scripture, he is to be banished upon pain of death: And also for the sake of some inhabitants, whose sufferings have been great, and others who groan under the same yoke; this is the chief cause of the presenting this to your view: for what abuses we have suffered by them, all the world cannot make us amends for, being marked as rogues use to be; but being innocent, and hating all such actions as may justly deserve such marks, in true quietness we rest, being marked for the sheep of Christ, and bearing in our bodies the marks of the Lord Jesus: And having thus done, wee have discharged our consciences, and this will lie upon you, to arise in that power which the Lord God hath given you, and plead the cause of the oppressed, who hath no helper in the earth; and in this work the Lord God wil be with you, and wil (as he always hath when you have taken such works of mercy in hand) prosper you: And if in wisdom you should see it meete to take the Government of the four Vnited Co­lonies into your hands, and give the honest and sincere-hearted free liberty of conscience, it would make many a glad heart in that land, and would bee as strength to the weak, and as the opening of the prison-doors to the captives, which would be a good day; and this if you come into the wisdom and power of God, you might easily do, by which all things should be governed, and so an­swer the desires of many of the Inhabitants who much desire it, who groan un­der the arbitrary power that the high-minded Rulers of New-England govern by, and also prevent the further shedding of innocent blood, and the spoiling of the innocent: And if this thing you do not seek to prevent, now you have the pow­er in your hands, and an opportunity to improve, it will lye heavy upon you, and be a stain to your posterity: but that you may bee preserved from such a weight and stain, and may use the power put into your hands, according to the will of God, without abusing it in the least, is the desire of us; who wait to see [Page 15] the power of the Lord set up, and the kingdome of the man of sin spoyled and broken; for bearing witness against which, we have suffered the cutting off our ears from our unkind Countrymen in New-England, named, Iohn Copeland, Iohn Rous, and Humphrey Norton, who was burnt in the hand.

If their agent here in England have any thing to say on their behalf, he may do well to appear.

There doth a query arise whether they thus acting so contrary to the govern­ment and wholsome laws of the English Nation, and making so proudly laws according to their own wills, not in the least in them making mention of taking notice of the supream powers of England, have not forfeited their Pattent.

Friends if any of you have a desire to read our examinations when we were before the Rulers we commend you to a book titled, New Englands Ensigne, sold by Giles Calvart, and to a book titled, The Popish inquisition newly erected in New England, sold by Thomas Simmons at the Bull and Mouth neer Aldersgate, in which book most of their laws are printed and answered, the which books may be serviceable for any of you to read for your particular satisfaction.

Besides the forementioned sufferings inflicted on the bodies and estates of such as fear the Lord, and worship him in spirit, and therefore withdrew from the dead sacrifices of the Churches in New-England, the Rulers find­ing that their former Laws and Acts did not effect that which they intended, namely, the thorow rooting out the power of godliness, and them that dwell in it, they proceeded to make another Law, which was (after much railing, and casting as many odious terms on them that are called Quakers, as they could rake up) That if any of them were found in their jurisdiction that were not inhabitants, they should be banished upon pain of death.

In prosecution of this their Order as their May Court, 1659. they banished one Will. Brend to be gone in 48. hours, and if he was found af­ter that time, he was to be apprehended and cast in prison, and proceeded with according to their Law, which is Death.

And at the same Court for the offences pretended against some of the Inhabitants, for which they had from time to time suffered long imprison­ments, cruel whippings, and scourgings, and the spoiling of their goods to a great value, the Rulers took hold on six of them, and banished them up­on pain of death, two of which were very aged people, who through tra­vels by sea unfit for their years, and sufferings, and other inconvemences which came upon them in their banished state, have ended their dayes, whose death we can do no less then put upon the account of their persecu­tors, they being the occasion of it. Since which they have imprisoned five more, three men and a woman, whom they cast in prison with her clothes wet, and a childe between ten and eleven years of age, who was moved of the Lord to go from her outward being, 105. miles to Boston, where she was cast into prison, and being enamined, her answers were so far beyond the ordinary capacity of a child of her years, that the Governor confessed there was a spirit in her beyond the spirit of a woman; but being blind, and not seeing God perfecting his praise out of the childs mouth, said, It was the Devil: These five were in prison to be banished on pain of death; their Mit­timusses follow, which will further shew the spirits of them that write them; and from what spirit they take advice, whose ways are so contrary to God, and those that follow him.

This Order of close imprisonment was strictly followed, for when we heard from her, she had been kept five weeks in a little room, and had not been out upon any occasion.