TO THE PARLIAMENT OF THE COMMONWEALTH OF ENGLAND, Now sitting at WEST MINSTER.  
A Representation of the Outrages and Cruelties acted upon the servants of Christ, at two Meetings at Sabridgworth in Hartford-shire.  
LONDON, Printed for Thomas Simmons, at the Bull and Mouth near Aldersgate, 1659.   

WHile ye declare for a Commonwealth, and the just Liberties of all persons as men and Christians; and while other people in the Nation (though enemies to such a Government) have freedom to worship after their manner; the true friends of Christ (that cannot be enemies to good Government) many of whom have ventured their lives in the late War, for the Rights and Liberties of the people, being awakened to Worship the Lord in Spirit and Truth, are not only slandered and reviled with all manner of evil say, but most cruelly buffeted, beaten and stoned to the shedding of their blood, in several dark places of the Land, which are full of the habitations of cruelty, as if their lives were at the mercy of the worst of men, and they were only to be used as sheep for the slaughter; An instance whereof we shall present you with (in stead of many) what was acted in two several Meetings at Sabridgworth in Hartford-shire, the third and one and thirtieth of the fifth Month, on the third, day a multitude of the sons of Belial boys and men stormed the house wherein God's people were met together in meekness and fear, with stones, dirt and other things of offence, and breaking in upon them did very much abuse them, especially as they went away, no Officer appearing to keep the Peace, and endeavour to suppress the tumult, though two Constables and a Churchwarden lived hard by, and a Justice of Peace Sir Thomas Hewet so called, was at the place of his worship, within hearing of the clamour and shouting, to whom also the suffering people shown themselves in such a pickle, as would have moved any person of common humanity to pity, and interpose his utmost power, for their rescue; but his answer to their mild complaints was frowns and checks, biding them go for remedy to them that gave them their Liberty; and saying, such usage was as lawful as their Meeting, whereupon the rude rabble took encouragement to abuse them before his face; and that day month being more numerous, they were much more fierce and cruel, striking horse and rider as they came thither, pulling down some and wallowing them in the mire, daubing others with dirt both faces and , and filling their hats therewith, and clapping them on their heads; and afterward assaulting the place (where near 300 were met together) with shouting and flinging of stones, they broke down the tiles, boards, windows and walls of the house, and did fling in at the breaches such showers of stones, dirt, rotten eggs, man's dung and water, that few or none could escape the marks of their fury, and they cut off great part of some men's coats, and did tear off a very good scarf from about a woman's neck, which still is kept from her, laid some for dead and sorely bruised, and battered others, and so annoyed all with their continual throwing for the space of three hours, that one side of the house being broken down, they were forced to quite the place; and as they attempted to escape were stopped, and not suffered to pass without renewed tokens of inhumanity, for the mad crew neither restrained by authority (the Constables absenting again on purpose, and Clement Buck a Churchwarden slighted the admonition of a Justice of Peace there present, who warned him to keep the Peace, and the rest to take heed they did not break it, and was used as coarsely as the rest for his pains; and their Neighbour Justice bearing with (if not a betting) their madness, for his men were the first that broke in upon them the former Meeting, and one of them was present at the latter, encouraging the Tories;) nor their violence resisted the harmless people taking all patiently, encouragement was taken to act over their cruelties with repeated aggravations, and that without respect to Age, Sex or Condition, so that aged persons, children & women with child, fared alike with others; yea, as if nothing could satisfy but the lives of the innocent; they did lay in wait and pursue some of them with stones and dirt almost two miles from that place.  
Now though it cannot be denied, that this hath been the entertainment the best of God's people have met withal in the world, from the enmity of the serpent's seed, which is always higher, as the Spirit of glory shines brighter upon the woman's seed; and therefore crucified the Lord of Glory. And though it is given to God's people not only to believe, but also to suffer: yet seeing that which is done to them is reckoned as done to himself, & not knowing what the passing by of such an example of violence, especially at this time may produce; for preventing as much as in us lies (the shedding of innocent blood, which pulls down the heaviest judgements upon a People or Nation that are guilty thereof.) We have laid this foul business before you, to whom it belongs to do Justice, and execute judgement in the midst of us; and this is not to keep a day unto the Lord, neither are these fruits worthy a good Government or a right Reformation, being scarce to be found where there is any Government; Righteousness exalteth a Nation, but sin is a shame for any people. It is a great shame to the Magistrate, Minister and the whole Nation, that such outrages should be committed, but much greater that they should be permitted. Look to it therefore O ye Rulers of the Land, and bear your Testimony against such wickedness, lest otherwise you appear consenting thereunto, and there be found among you the blood of the poor innocent, and so the fierce anger of the Lord break forth upon you, and there be none to deliver: If the sufferings of the innocent in France, Germany and Ireland are matter of lamentation, with them that have any thing of tenderness and compassion, these cruelties so newly acted, and so very near, must needs affect you: It is high time to do something to stay the hand of the Lord that is stretched out for such abominations. This last Tragedy was acted the immediate day before the intended insurrection, and the Actors expressed great confidence of the success thereof, saying, That there is no Parliament, and that King Charles would not allow such meetings. You have yet power in your hands to prove them liars, yea to vindicate your authority [which was trampled upon in this action] and too let them know, there is a Parliament that abhors such barbarisms, and is indeed resolved to defend the honest interest and people of the Nation against all bloody adversaries whatsoever: So will you be a terror to evil doers, and a praise to them that do well, and your hands, and the hands of them that are with you may be strengthened to do excellently for the land of your nativity.  


Robert Beard  
Henry Stout  
John Bresbon  
Sammuel Rud  
John Goodman  
John Odel  
John Reynolds  
John Winchester  
Daniel Halden  
John Pain  
Abel Walston  
John Mighel  
Jeremiah Plummer  
Thomas Everrard, etc.     

POSTSCRIPT.  
SInce the writing hereof, one of the persons that was most abused at the above mentioned meeting John Goodman by name (one of whose eyes were almost put out in the house, with stones & dirt, wherewith he went bleeding away, and yet was set upon by three of these bloody men who knocked him down, and in likelihood had taken away his life, but for some women that cried out and caused them to leave him) hearing they were so far from repenting of their wickedness, that they threatened to deal worse the next opportunity, had a Justice of Peace his warrant to bring them three, etc. before him or some other Justice in the county, now the Constable willing to gratify his neighbours, did go with them before Thomas Hewet aforesaid, where they were sure to have favour in this case, who (when they were come before him, together with many witnesses and others that came to hear and see how things were carried) asked them what was the matter; John Goodman answered, there was cause enough, for he was knocked down, the Justice replied, if you come for justice, behave yourselves as before a Justice [meaning they should be bare] and presently before the said Goodman could say any more, the Justice gave the word, and his servants that stood ready, thrust him and them that came with him out of doors; And this was all the right the Justice could afford him, for the wrong he had suffered; Now whether this be to act the part of a Justice of peace, or to minister Justice and true judgement; Let all sober men judge, he hath done very much herein to strengthen the hands of evil doers, by justifying the wicked, & condemning the innocent; And as it may well be concluded from whence this barbarous tumult received their encouragement; so it may as easily be known where the blood that might, or hereafter may be shed by this party is chargeable; And whether it be for the honour and safety of the Commonwealth, that men of bloody principles be continued in commission for the peace in a time of reformation, It is left to the serious consideration of the present Authority of the Nation.  
THE END.