And here followes a short Relation of Priest Smiths perse­cution of us, by him, or his members, in this little paper, where­of the Judge so called had a coppy given to him that he might doe nothing against us through ignorance, whereto our names were subscribed, who are the sufferers.

THE first day of the week being the fifth day of the eighth month called Octob. 1656. The servants of the Lord, who by the world in scorn are called Quakers, as they were moved, met in the name and fear of the Lord on the way near the steeple house yard near Cressedge, and there in peace abiding, and as the minister of the Lord moved by the Spirit of the Lord was speaking, or declaring to the people, there rushed out of the steeple house many of the people, some of them running furiously, and in great rage, breaking over the hedg laying violent hands upon many friends, amongst the rest some of the Souldiers (they being friends) the people with their violence broke the hilt of one of their swords being in the scabberd by doing their indeavour to take it from him, al­though there was no occasion given by any, by words or deeds, and also drew blood from his hand, such was their brutish im­moderation. And when their rage ceased, and the messenger of the Lord, as he was declaring the mind of the Lord, was brought by the Constable into the Town, and there he was fur­ther moved to speak from the Lord to die people, they being silent untill he was moved to prayer, then as he was at prayer, the Priests servants came forth with kettles, and beated upon them, one with a key, the other with a staffe, and also some others with a candlestick, and a frying pan purposely to di­sturb; and being asked why they did soe, the Priests man an­swered and said, that he that sett them to doe it, would beare them out. Likewise the Priests maid and others, with wooden vessells throwing water in the faces of many of us, with shoo­ting, striking, and balling as the meerest Heathens upon the face of the earth. And thus with many more abuses received, is the truth of the passages, as many can witnesse; yet, notwith­standing all these grosse abuses, the Priest stirred the Justices so called, to grant a Warrant to fetch in the innocent that pati­ently [Page 5]suffered the former wrongs; and upon the seaventh day following he procured severall friends to be brought before Justice Harecot Layton, Justice Richard Baggot, so called, in the Exchequer of Shrewsbury, where he, the Priest, declared many untruths to the Justices, bringing in his servants and others which were offenders for witnesses, and the innocent there ac­cused could have proved the Priest a man for-sworne, but they could not be heard. And as the first was examined what he saw done by us, answered, that he saw nothing done but that we stood peaceably, and then others being examined whether there was any disturbance, one answered, he heard a dim sound at the lower end of the Chappell, so called, but could not un­derstand any thing. Also a Constable being examined upon his oath whether he saw, or heard any disturbance, who an­swered no, he saw them peaceable, and quiet, the Justices ask­ed is he a Quaker? and would not suffer him to speak further, but appointed his clark to make a Mittimus to send us to the common goale. Some of us asking what Law we had broken, then they read the Statute of the first year of Phillip and Ma­ry, one of us answered that we had not so much as broken that Law, not being in the Chappell so called, nor Chappell yard, nor any of us mentioned in the Mittimus spake a word whilest the Priest was in the Chappell, neither saw his face, yet the Justices said, it was supposed we had broken Marys Laws those Popish principles, so upon this supposition sent us to Prison.

The Assizes being holden at the towne of Bridgnorth, to which we came the 14. day of the first month, the Priest made complaint unto the Judge, that the Jayler gave us too much li­berty, as the Clarke told one of us, who have suffered by the said Priests cruelty, wherein his cruelty appeares more and more, and the deceipt made manifest to all who love to doe as they would be done unto. And upon the 16 day of the month above mentioned, we were brought forth before the Judge, and the Court, singly one by one, where we came in the fear of God. The first of us being called had out hatt taken of our head, by some that stood by the Judge, seeing that, and know­ing there was no matter of fact to lay to our charge, bad put [Page 6]on their hatts; and when our hatts were on our heads, they told us they were a Court of justice, wherein all may see how they seek to insnare the innocent, and how unjustly they deale with the innocent, who commanded our hatts to be put on, and then commanded us to take them off (in these words) three times, the Court commands you to put off your hatts; which being done, bad the Jaylor take us away one after another.

And being carried to prison we remained till the next day, and then we were brought forth before them againe, and they read one indictment to us, wherein was mentioned that we came in contempt of the Court, with some more things to the same purpose, nothing being mentioned that we had done to the Priest who cast us in prison. As touching the breach of any known Law, they asked us, are you guilty? we answered, nay, we come not in contempt of the Court, but in obedience to the Lord, who commands we should not respect persons; at which the Judge bid us hold our tongues, I know what I will doe with you; and this was before the jury had their charge; wherein all may see, who loves the light, the corrup­tion and unjustice of this Judge, who could tell what he would doe with us, before the jury went forth; but the jury being called, and receiving their charge of the Judge, where­in he told them, that putting of the hatt, was the custom of the Nation, and the custome of the Nation was the ground of the Law of the Nation; we answered, evill customs are not to be kept, and that Law, that is grounded upon customs, and not upon the Law of God, hath but a sandie foundation; for many are accustomed to doe evill, as the Scripture testifies; and the saints were not to fashion themselves like to this world. Then there was a proclamation made in the Court, that if any man had either matter of fellonie, or murder, or the like, against the Prisoners, they might appear to prosecute, or to that purpose; but none appeared against us, as touch­ing the breach of any Law either of God, or man.

Wherein all may see how the innocent are reckoned a­mongst the transgressors. But we know the Law is good if a man use it lawfully, knowing this, that the Law is not made [Page 7]for a righteous man, but for the Lawlesse, and disobedient, for the ungodly, and for sinners, for unholy, and profane, for murderers of Fathers, and murderers of Mothers, for man­slayers, for whoremongers, for them that defile themselves with mankind, for men-stealers, for liers, for perjured persons, and if there be any other thing contrary to sound Doctrine, read 1 Tim. 1.8, 9, 10. Now we are not Lawlesse, for the Law of the Nation doth not forbid any publique place to meet in, neither them that doe professe faith in Jesus Christ, the Law doth not forbid, but by it they are to be Protected; neither did we any thing contrary to sound Doctrine, as we shall be ready to prove out of the Scriptures of truth, for there is nothing mentioned in the Scriptures of putting off the hatt, and so keeping on our hatts is not contrary to sound Doctrine and so not transgressors of the Law.

But is not he who is our accuser, and prosecuter, out of the said Doctrin of Jesus Christ? is not he called master, doth not he stand praying in the Synogogues? hath he not the chiefest seat in the Assembly, doth he not take hire? is not he a false accuser, who accused us that we disturbed him, and hath not proved it, and is not all these things contrary to sound Doc­trine, and so he found to be the transgressor of the Law?

And so all may see how the innocent is punished, and the guilty goes free, for when the jury came in with their Verdict, they said that we were guilty as touching keeping on our hatts not mentioning any other thing of concernment whereupon the Judge with the consent of some of the Court, there pre­sent, fined us seaven, aforementioned, in fortie pounds a peece, and to be kept Prisoners till the payment; And this is the chiefest of the things that was done by the Judge, and the Court that we doe remember.

But yet for all this the malice of the Priest, and his mem­bers is not ceased, for as some of our friends passed by the place called Cressedge where the said Priest is called a Minister, the fruits that is brought forth by the people, made him ma­nifest to be no Minister of Christ, Christ saith by their fruits ye shall know them, they were mockers, and scoffers, and swea­rers, and such like which I know is not fruit of the good tree, [Page 8]but of that tree that is to be hewn down and cast into the fire, For every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit, is to be hewen down, and cast into the fire, Mat. 3.10. And so it is good for people to consider of their ways, who have such leaders as cause them to erre, for if the blind lead the blind, both fall in­to the ditch.

And the Priest to cover his former envie, goes on further, and to blind the people more, and more, reported it, that we were fined for that we had done unto him, which is a plaine, and manifest lye, as many can witnesse, and may be made ap­peare; for the Judges Clarke told one of us, if we were but free to goe, and put of our hatts before the Bench, our fines might be taken off, and we might have our libertie to prose­cute against the Priest, and Justice, for false imprisonment, and so have recovered our costs and dammages for five months imprisonment, which would have been no small sum of money, if we had been free to have done so.

So here all may see the Priest to be a lyer, and so a trans­gressor of the Law of God, whose Law we durst not break, upon whom we waite for righteous judgement, who will judge our enemyes righteously.