A Single and general Voice, Lifted up like a TRUMPET, Sounding forth the Lords Controversy concerning London, with her Governors, Priests, and Citizens that walk in the Manners, Customs, and Way of the Heathen, that know not the dreadful God who is Light among them, neither like to retain God (or that which may be known of God within) in their knowledge, like the Sinners of the Gentiles that sacrifice to Devils, and not unto God, Rom. 1.  
With somewhat directed to the ear of Thomas Atkin, called, Alderman of the said City; A Reproof to his perverse and ungodly Proceed, Message, and Two Letters from his Hand Answered, with a lamentable Cry of the Innocent, in and through a Servant of the Church of the First Born in the Inner-Prison, called, The Hole, in the Poultry Counter in London.  
Also a Letter from a Servant of God in the said Prison to Thomas Allen Mayor of the City.  
The sound may be heard in other parts (and become serviceable) in the Nation, though it may be (as it is) Rejected by them that forget Mercy, Truth, Equity, Justice and sound Judgement, the Law and the Prophets, the Lord and his Work, and rather choose to set their hearts on, and follow after lying Vanities, and so forsake their own Mercies [who rebel against the Light of Christ in the Conscience of Male and Female] that are saying in their hearts as in Ages passed to the most High, (that showeth to man what is his thought) Depart from us, for we desire not the knowledge of thy ways.  
By DANIEL BAKER.  Lam. 2.6. The Lord hath caused the solemn Feasts and Sabbaths to be forgotten in Zion. Rev. 10. And I saw the Beast, and the Kings of the Earth, and their Armies gathered together to make War against him who is called Faithful & True. 
London, Printed for Thomas Simmons, near Aldersgate 16●●   

A single and general Voice, etc.  
SUrely the Light of Life, even the desire and health of the Nations is come in the midst of a foolish people in these latter days, how many are they that love not their lives unto the death to publish and proclaim the joyful sound hereof to the ends of the Earth, by which the Nations, Kindred's, Tongues, and People are provoked to jealousy and wrath? but why do the Heathen Rage, and the people imagine vain things, seeing he the everlasting light of the house of Jacob, of Israel's life and glory, the sure Foundation, the Rock, the Hiding-place, the strong Tower, whose Name is called the Word of God; by whom the world was made, even he is come in the midst of us, the true light, that all men through him might believe and be saved from the wrath to come, by him the light, the Lord of the Sabbath, the substance, the rest that ends the signs, and lighteth every man that cometh into the world, even he is the same yesterday, to day, and for ever, whose day Abraham saw, before Abraham was I am, Lo he is come who is the (I am) the Light, the Author of eternal Salvation, the Resurrection and the Life that is risen; behold with boldness I Testify in his Name that is faithful and true, in the midst of us, and this is he whose righteous Sceptre shall sway over the Nations, whose dominion shall be from Sea to Sea, who shall Rule the Nations with his Iron Rod, with the Rod of his mouth will he smite the Earth, and with the breath of his Lips will he slay the wicked; be wise now therefore O ye Kings, be instructed O ye Judges of the Earth, serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling, kiss the Son lest he be angry and you perish in the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little, blessed are all they that put their trust in him.  
O London, How art thou defiled and polluted and filled with violence, vanity, deceit, hypocrisy, wickedness, and works of darkness? Surely thy Governors and Pastors have greatly erred from the way everlasting, that such an unwholesome ill savour ascends from thee; thy Pastors, thy Priests and thy Heads have erred and gone astray, a whoring, ravening from the Spirit of Truth, & corrupted the way of Holiness, or that which may be known of God within, and have greatly multiplied thine iniquities and crying abominations, and so have perverted all equity and are estranged from the Life of Truth, so that the Word of Holiness is become a Reproach, a taunt and by word in the midst of thee, thy loud crying sins are exceedingly increased, far exceeding thy Sister Sodom that suffered the vengeance of eternal fire, and according to the number of thine Inhabitants, have been thy Dumb IDOLS, or gods that cannot save from the power of the SWORD that's to pass through the Streets of thy defiled wicked Inhabitants; O! who shall bewail thee in the day and hour of thy calamity and distress, when bitter howling and wailing shall be heard, when no eye shall pity or weep over thee, when thy Lovers shall forsake thee because of the multitude of thy Whordoms greatness of pride and haughtiness, and fornications, and would in no wise be cleansed, purged, or purified by the Word of the highest which has been sounded forth and proclaimed-even in and through thy streets; O London, is not thy Land full of Horses, or is there any end of their wild Chariots and Idols? Alas, alas, woe and alas for the little ones that lies wounded and oppressed under all thy filthy Abominations, the multitude of thy unclean Beasts in the midst of thee are waxed fat and wanton, greedily hastening and running into the abundance excess, and so greedily devouring, eating up, and was●●ng and spoiling the goodly 〈…〉 sidue under their feet, so that their hearts are waxed gross with fatness (fitted for the day of slaughter) feeding themselves without fear or amazement over the Worm or despised Seed of the Covenant in the midst of thee, notwithstanding the Lion hath roared a top of the mountains; O London, London, thy stink and ill savour hath ascended up into the nostrils of the most holy & highest Lord of Lords, & King of Kings, when as thy scent or smell should have been as Lebanon, or as the Ancient Garden of Eden; had the precious life of thy long feigned profession of the holy Prophets, Christ and the Apostles good words freely and clearly ascended up and spread over thy Walls and Towers and Borders, that the Nations round about might have scented, tasted, and savoured the good and precious fruit of the Life of thy feigned Profession, and to have come with joy and rejoicing, submitting and bending unto thee because of thy perfect beauty, had it been brought forth at all in its season and comeliness and brightness; as the light that ariseth in the East and giveth light unto the ends of the Earth, lo such a thing hath not been brought forth by thy Heads, Pastors, Priests, and Wisemen of thy Inhabitants, but out of the North the precious Lily sprung up, the ground is blessed that bare and brought forth this tender plant, that's never to be forgotten, but to be had in everlasting remembrance of all that hear the joyful sound, and come to see the glory of the brightness of thy rising, who shall Trumpet forth thy fame to the utmost parts of the Earth, and talk of thy mighty power in the Congregation of the righteous.  
O London, London, How hast thou been visited from on high by the hand of the Almighty in his faithful (though despised) Messengers, that thou might be purged and made clean and healed? Lo the multitude of thy polluted Inhabitants have despised the day of Healing and of small things, and the Children of Wisdom [that have been wearied, and as it were ready to faint from time to time under the weight of the multitude of thy pollutions and crying abominations, and] have truly bewailed and lamented thy estate; but how have they been esteemed in thine Adulterous eyes as sounding Brass, as signs and wonders, the off scouring of the World, or as the Wind, thou hast not known whence they come, neither whether they go  
O London, Thy defiled Garments, thy Heads, thy Priests, thy Pastors, Professors, and Profane in thee, thy Judgement Seats, thy Courts, thy Palaces, with them that that handle the Law, thy Idols Temples, lo even thy streets in these latter days are stained with the blood of the Innocent; O England, England, what hast thou done or brought forth? how canst thou like an impudent Harlot or murderer, plead before the glorious Throne of the Lord God of Judgement (and of the Lamb the Son of the highest) and say not guilty, or I am innocent.  
O London, (Remember Jerusalem) it's yet but a very little while, & thy day is passed over thy head, some of thy Mourners have already seen, and yet behold the Lilies covering the mountains, the good watchmen of the City (Zion where the Sabbaths which thou hast profaned and polluted, are forgotten) wait for the gathering and healing of the remaining little ones that are defiled, wounded, and polluted even in thee.  
O London, Proclaim ye this among the Gentiles, prepare War, wake up the mighty men, all the men of War, let them come up, beat your Blow shares into Swords, and your Pruning-Hooks into Spears, Let the Weak say I am strong.  
Assemble yourselves and come, all ye Heathen, assemble your selves-together round about thither, cause thy mighty ones to come down O Lord, let the Heathen be awaked and come up to the valley of Jehoshaphat, for there will I sit to Judge the Heathen round about, put ye in the Sickle for the Harvest is ripe; Come get ye down, for the Press is full, the Fats over flow, for their wickedness is great, See Joel the third.  
O ye heads and polluted Inhabitants of London that call the Scripture your rule, read and behold your State, see Deut. 32. and when the Lord saw it, he abhorred them because of the provoking of his Sons and of his Daughters, and he said, I will hid my face from them, I will see what their end shall be, for they are a very froward generation, children in whom is no faith.  
They have moved me to jealousy with that which is not God (they provoked him to jealousy with strange gods) they have provoked me to anger with their vanities, and I will move them to jealousy with those which are not a people, I will provoke them to anger with a foolish Nation, for a fire is kindled in mine anger, and shall burn unto the lowest hell, and shall consume the earth with her increase, and set on fire the foundations of the mountains; I will heap mischiefs upon them, I will spend mine arrows upon them, they shall be burnt with hunger, and devoured with burning heat, and with bitter destruction.  
Now forasmuch as it hath been the manner and ancient custom of the Mayors, Aldermen, Governors, Citizens, and inhabitants of the City of London; the day when their chief Governor is sworn to do justice, at such seasons, great shows, and wicked dark vile inventions is acted and brought forth in and through the open streets and River of the City, because of which exceeding great multitudes of people assemble and gather together from divers parts in the vanity of their vain minds, which are led captive to many and divers hurtful lusts, that war against their souls at such seasons; by which the Creatures are wasted, consumed, devoured and destroyed, (without the fear and wisdom of God) by high and low, rich and poor, young and old, bond and free, for which end they were not created, and the everlasting God hereby is greatly provoked, and highly dishonoured, though Thomas Atkin attribute it to the honour and respect of the Magistrates; But Moses and Joshua the good Magistrates was not found walking in these or such like ways; and the persons of the Creatures hurt, and sometime in great jeopardy to the loss of life by land and water, and from time to time, the Lord God and his spirit hath been grieved, oppressed and vexed with these vain filthy abominations of the heathen, and Priests, Rulers and people have been and are in a high degree guilty of all the hurt and waste of the Creation, so much to the provoking and dishonour of the Almighty Lord and everlasting God of Truth, yea and my spirit within me hath been often pressed down and grieved, because of the weight of the crying abominations of Priests, Rulers and people that are called Christians, but are not profirted at all by them the hired Priests that teach for filthy lucre, their own way, their gain from their Quarters, like greedy dogs that can never have enough, and are so plentifully bringing forth the fruits and works of darkness, walking in the manners of the Gentiles; and way of the Heathen, and pleading for their dumb Idols; wherefore I was not only moved to write to the two Mayors, namely John Ireten and Thomas Allen, to lay before them and to stop them and their subjects of their folly and wicked vanity (but they would not receive warning) as may appear by a paper afterwards published and Tituled A certain Warning from a naked Heart. But the twenty ninth of the eighth month, on which their Heathenish Ancient Idolatrous customs and dark inventions was so highly set up and exalted, and carried through the open streets, at which many thousands of people gazed, before which time I spoke a few words of Truth and soberness which the Lord put into my heart to some of the Aldermen, as the horses and their Riders passed in at the Mayor's gate; saying, The Lord God will slain the pride and glory of all flesh, the Lord God will slain the pride of all glory as in the days of old; the Lord will smite the great men of the earth with astonishment of heart, who forget Justice and Judgement, and the Lord God hath a controversy with all that forget the Lord and his work.  
The Lord will be avenged on the great men of the earth that destroy and devour the Creatures and the Creation upon their ungodly lusts, and forget to do Justice and Judgement, for which sayings, I was not only buffeted and abused at the Mayor's gate by the brutish people, but violently dragged & carried away by Porters, and thrown into the Poultry Counter by Thomas Atkins his unreasonable will without a Mittimus; 
† But Noble Festus, whom the Professors, Priests and praphane call Heathen could not do so, Act. 25.27  throw him in said the Officer, and let him lie like a Rogue, and afterward a Mittimus was sent though dated the same day; The Copy is as followeth.  
LONDON, ss.  
THese are in the Name of the Keepers of the Liberty of Englamd by authority of Parliament, to require to detain and safely keep in your custody the Body of Daniel Baker, until he find good security to appear at the next Sessions of peace in LONDON, and in the mean time to be of the good behaviour; occasioned a great tumult of people to be gathered together in the Streets, to the the great disquiet of the City, and disturbance of the public peace, and this shall be your Warrant.  
Dated the twenty ninth day of Octo. 1659.  
to the keeper of the Poultry Counter.  
Thomas Atkin.  
Now forasmuch as I should have been called to appear at the next Sessions of peace in London, according to equity and the words in the Mittimus also; but equity, justice & judgement was passed by and forgotten, and I was not called, but kept a close Prisoner in a stinking hole of the Prison some weeks after, and I had not only laid before the Jailor the unjustness of my Sufferings, but that it was more than he or the unreasonable Justice, according to the Law of the Nation could answer what they had done, and the same day as I understand, the Jailor informed the Justice (concerning the Matter) who sent a private Messenger to have me come at his will, which cast me into prison openly, and to have set me free secretly, but at that season I had not freedom from the Lord that gave me to see the wicked unreasonableness of their deal with me, and therefore had more Christian boldness to write to him (the Copy of the Letter is thus written.)  
This body in which I am with every Member of it is the Lords, and so was and is the testimony of God's truth, whose words I spoke forth (in obedience to his most Pure Spirit (in my heart) that reproves the World for sin; the twenty ninth day of the eighth month, and seventh or last day of the week, when the great, wise and honourable Men and inhabitants of the Earth [and the wisdom 〈◊〉 honour) that is from beneath is earthly, sensual and devilish] assembled together at Thomas Allens the present Mayor's house, and from thence thou with them accompanied, and tolerated in a high degree the wicked inventions, and idolatrous heathenish customs of the men of sin, kept up and tolerated and highly exalted in course and time with vain fleshly glory by such that should be more wise, who are called Christians, Christian Magistrates, Members of Churches, Governors, Mayors and Aldermen, them to be found Acting and giving up their strength, means and precious time to lying vanities, rather than to be good, sound, sober examples to all both young and old, and for them to be found acting and exerciseing themselves in such Heathenish abominations, and wicked vain customs of the World that lieth in wickedness, to be laughed at by fools and scorners, though poor wise men lament over and pity you by reproving (with their life) those evils you are found in, to the end that you might not die in your sins, which grives and wounds the just principle of God in yourselves and others, which Testimony is one with that which is true that condems the unjust.  
But Friend, was not this Body with the true Testimony from the Mayor's gate [by thy will cast into a filthy noisome Prison] from which place by violence with Porters and others carried through the open streets in the sight of many hundreds of people, as if I had been such a vile person or transgressor not worthy to live, and the multitude might so judge of me, seeing me thus openly carried and dragged, as or far worse than many Malefactors or murderers have been.  
And what, hast thou forgot to do Justice and Judgement, and dost thou send for me secretly? for as much as the Law is open, and if I have committed any thing worthy of death or bonds, Lo here is a body prepared to suffer, and according to the Mittimus thou sent (after I was thus thrown into a noisome hole of a Prison by thy will, and under thy hand in writing) I should have appeared at the last Sessions of Peace (so called) in London, but I was not called according to the Tenor of the Mittimus, and so thou hast greatly erred, and art found a transgressor thyself, and the Lords faithful witness in thy Conscience will judge thee for it, and my words I spoke as the Lord moved me at the Mayor's gate is already fulfilled upon thy head, where it will stand aright; Lo thou hast forgot to do justice and judgement, if thou had not, thou would have (without delay) caused me to have appeared at the Judgement Seat, there to be Tried openly, as I was cast into Prison openly, and if I had spoke or done any thing worthy of Death or of Bonds, the Law was open, and thou ought equally and openly to have executed true Justice and Judgement, and to have laid the sword upon the head of the transgressor, and so to have been a terror to the evil doer.  
Lo the Sword is to be laid upon thy Head O Man, who hast forgot equity, and lost pure Reason, Justice and Judgement, and thrown the Testimony of Truth into Prison so openly; and what, dost thou fend privately to have this Body which is the Lords, to do his will and not mine own, neither man's will that cast me in,  
From the hole in the inner Prison in the Poultry Counter, the 15 of the 9 mo. 1659. Who am the Lords Prisoner for the Testimony of a pure Conscience, for the Elects suffering Seeds sake; A Friend to thy Soul, called, Daniel Baker,  
The above written Letter was delivered to Thomas Atkin his hand, and the Messenger brought me tidings that he read it, and when he had done tore it to pieces and laughed, ill becoming his age, grey hairs and place, who after some days sent me a letter in the Night when it was dark, a figure of his unfruitful works, who hates to be reform, and to the end that others may beware and learn wisdom, which many reject whose deeds are with God's fear and Wisdom to be brought to the Light which equally tryeth all things, and accordingly reproves and condemneth, or approveth and justifieth, I say according to the faithful and true witness in the Conscience of Male and Female, so shall every one's deeds done in the body be condemned or justified, as is the ground and nature by which they are conceived and brought forth, these are the true say of the sure word of prophecy that gave forth the Scriptures of Truth, he that can believe and receive it without offence, let him.  
The Copy of Thomas Atkin his Letter is as followeth.  
DAniel Baker, I saw you at my Lord Mayor's gate upon the twenty ninth day of October last, being the first day when he came from Westminster, you were in a wild posture, more like a mad man then a sober person, you were then advised to return to your house, but you still continued there in drawing a great concourse of people about you, to the great disturbance of the peace of this City, drawing Cutpurses and Pick-pokets about you, a fit time for such persons to commit Robbery; you were then deservedly carried to the Counter by force by Porters as I am informed, who were paid for their pains taken about you, if you had gone willingly, you should not have been dragged thither; A Friend of yours desired me to discharge you, to that end I sent for you to come unto me, intending to have admonished you to make no such disturbance for the future, and then to have discharged you, but you writ me a Letter, and sent me word by your Keeper, that you would be dragged out as you were carried in (this is false) and if that be your mind, when you desire your Liberty, get a keeper to bring you to me, and I shall give a discharge, in the mean time if you want any fitting accommodation in the Counter, it is your own fault, I pity your condition, the Lord open your eyes, and so I Rest,  
Leaden-hall street London the 18 of Nou. 1659. Your well-wishing Friend, THOMAS ATKIN  
Friend, I have received thy Letter, and I did not tear it to pieces after I read it as thou didst mine. But how is it thou art so dark and blind, though thou saw me at thy Lord Mayor's gate, Why could not thou see to do justice, and relieve the oppressed within and without, and cease from pevishnesse and perverseness, madness and folly? for it is high time for thee to learn moderation and sobriety, and cease from false accusing the Lords Servant, whom thou say appeared more like a mad man (than a sober person) in a wild posture; know thou that the Servant is not above his Lord, of whom such as crucified him said he is mad and hath a Devil, and if they called the Master of the house Belzebub, how much more them of his household; and however I appeared to thee know it was the Lord's Truth and Testimony I declared that season against your abominations, I spoke the words of Truth and soberness as any moderate men may read in a Book Tituled, A certain Warning, which is fulfilling, and is to be fulfilled upon the heads of such as are with thee in thy Life and Nature.  
Thou say I was advised that day to return to my house; I say it becomes not a Ruler to hearken to, or to speak a lie, which I turn back upon thy head, for I heard none speak such words to me; and forasmuch as thou say, I continued there drawing a great concourse of people about me, drawing Cutpurses and Pickpockets about me, and thou say a fit time for such persons to commit a robbery, than I say such vile transgressors are beholding to the early Rulers that occasion so fit opportunities so frequently, more especially in the wicked City London, of all Cities and Towns throughout the Nations; and I say, how is it that thou art so dark and sottish, that thou can lay such a charge upon me, as the cause of such transgressors or concourse of people gathering together. Behold I tell thee, this filth is not to lie upon the head of the Innocent, but to be turned back upon the head of the transgresser from whence it came; and art not thou together with many more of the earthly Rulers, Mayor, aldermans and Citizens of this wicked City inexcusable herein, let the Lords witness in all sober people's consciences judge of this matter.  
And if such a small number of persons gathered together at the Mayor's gate, were a fit time for Cutpurses and Pickpockets to commit robbery, I query how fit and large opportunities have they so frequently given them by the Rulers of the earth which forget Justice and Judgement, [as thou have done] and too relief the oppressed, and rather exalt folly and vanity, and heathenish customs which captivates the minds of people out of God's fear at such seasons, when the Mayor Aldermen and great Earthly wise men that have lost the key of knowledge, the oppressing Lawyers and Rabbis, with their folly and vanity and heathenish customs and idolatrous abominations, with them is carried through the open streets of the wicked City, when so many thousands of people are gathered together [to see the Beast that carries the Whore arise out of the troubled Sea] and to behold your vanity, and wicked folly, and dark inventions, and vain glory and excess, which you wast and consume upon your lusts which war against your souls, when so many poor widows and fatherless, halt, blind and lame cripples so plentifully, lie crying and lamenting up and down your streets, and Mass-house doors, and corners of Allies for want of bread, food and raiment, and honest employments to be set at, work at them that can work; The Lord God will assuredly account with you for these things, and for his Creatures which you so greedily waste and consume upon your ungodly lusts; and thou say I was deservedly carried to the Counter by force by Porters, and what is my crime thou charge me with, both in the Mittimus and thy Letter to me? viz. I occasioned a great Tumult of people to be gathered together, drawing a great concourse of people, of Cutpurses and Pickpockets about you [say thou to me;] But hark Friend, hast thou a Law for such Crimes, or is this of thy own making? Now if there be such a Law in force, to be equally ministered or executed upon all without respect of persons (which is but reasonable, and all Laws should be grounded upon pure Reason) that occasion great Tumults of people to be gathered together, amongst whom doubtless may be transgressors of all sorts, such as the Priests keep ever learning what to say, but do not, (like themselves) Then what will become of all the earthly wise men of London, what, must they not all deservedly be carried to prison? I may appeal to the chief Authority in the Nation, and if the Lords faithful and true witness in their Consciences will condemn me, Lo I submit; but who occasioned any, or the greatest tumult or coucourse of people to gather together, whether the Rulers and wise men of London, in exalting their folly, vanity and vain glory (which the everlasting God will slain and bring to contempt) or I that in the fear and power of the Lord, speak a few words of Truth and Soberness, a Testimony against your Heathenish Customs and wicked actions, which if Turks and Infidels were here to behold you, no doubt but they would abhor, and detest, and defy you and your vain Religion, rather than to be won to the faith of God's Elect, by such stinking and unsavoury examples, to the shame of your dark teachers and brutish pastors And the Lord is a pleading with the Inhabitants of the Earth, because of their mighty sins, and whorish, hypocritical cover, and inventions of the Whore, of the Beast, and of the man of Sin, together with the Witchcraft and Sorceries of the Mother of Harlots, the wellfavoured Harlot, that hath so besotted and made the Kings and Rulers of the Earth, even of all Nations of the Earth drunk with the Wine of her Fornication; all Tables are full of Vomit, woe to the Inhabitants of the Earth.  
Moreover thou say, if I had gone willingly, I had not been dragged, (to Prison) what, is thy Conscience seared? art thou altogether impenitent O man? and thou I perceive dost rather countenance and strengthen the hands of evil doers, that offer and do violence in a brutish manner, by buffeting and dragging the guiltless and innocent to Prison, to which place I was forced, I knowing assuredly by the Testimony of the Lord God within me, that I was innocent in his sight, and a prison I deserved not, (and had thou been a man of God, thou might have savoured and seen so much also) and therefore not willing to go or subject to the corrupt will of vain man, but was therefore as a Sheep to the slaugter drove, dragged and carried where I should not have been, and this in the day when the Lords hand visits (from which thou cannot fly nor hid) will lie heavy upon thy conscience, in the mean time I leave it to the witness in thee.  
Again thou speaks in thy Letter, thou sent for me to admonish me, but thou being found a transgressor thyself, art not fit to admonish another, but to be threshed and admonished thyself; and then to have discharged me, thou say (secretly) when as I was so openly dragged (as a great offender) to Prison, and thou may know that my words are fulfilled upon thy head, viz. thou hast forgot to do Justice and Judgement, in as much as thou sent not for me before the Judgement Seat, where I ought to be tried openly as I was cast into Prison openly, and if I am found a Transgressor of any Law either of God or man, Lo I refuse not to suffer or to die.  
And moreover thou said thus, you writ me a Letter, and sent me word by your Keeper, that you would be dragged out as you were dragged in.  
I answer, this is false, I said not so, but I told thy messenger and the Keeper, if thou sent for me as I was cast into Prison, that I was in their hands, they may do as they were commanded, but know thou that he that neither slumbers nor sleeps is my keeper, though this vessel, suffer under thy corrupt will, and I was not willing to be dragged to Prison, neither to be dragged out, and thou did write me word, saying, if that be your mind, when you desire your liberty, get a Keeper to bring you to me, and I shall give you a discharge.  
Know thou that my mind is become subject to the Higher Power, (the light) that is higher than the power of darkness, and behold I demand my liberty with boldness, as my proper right, (for I have deserved no bonds, for the precious truth of God is on my side) as a Friend and Servant of the Lord, and so a true Christian; and as I am a freeborn Englishman in this land of my nativity, and as I have served my generation, and moreover dearly purchased by the shedding of my blood, and shattering of my bones, not only in my own behalf, as I am a Christian, an Englishman, a Freeborn Member of this Nation; but in the behalf of all the Freeborn Inhabitants of this Land, and thou also hast a share in what I and many more have jeoparded our Lives and Estates to purchase, and what art thou found without Natural affection, who also say (after thou have thus cruelly executed thy enmity against me by casting me into prison) if you want any thing, it is your own fault, and say thus, I pity your condition, the Lord open your eyes.  
But I know the Lord heareth not Sinners, he who was born blind and had his eyes opened by the Light Christ, said such words, and how dost thou pity me, if I have of my own I need not want, or it is my own fault thou say, than it is like I may perish for all thy pity, and the tender mercies of the wicked is cruelty, saith the wise man, but know thou that if my outward man perish in this noisome hole of a prison, that my blood will lie heavy upon thy conscience more especially, and many more may feel the weight of it also, if so, and the Lord whom I serve, I know then will require it at thy hand; therefore see thou to it, for so far have I cleared my Conscience, and I can truly say, I rest in peace, but I know thou spoke not truth, in saying so in thy Letter, for the Lords Eternal and Faithful witness in thy Conscience speaks not peace to thee, and so thou cannot rest, and the Scripture saith, the wicked are like the troubled Sea, that cannot rest, but cast or foam up mire and dirt, and sober people may favour the dirty stuff and corrupt fruit thou bears and brings forth; therefore it is needful thou repent of this thy wickedness, and bring forth fruits meet for repentance, lest thou die in thy sins, and if they were to departed into everlasting flames or unquenchable fire that visited not Christ's little ones, sick and in prison; what thinks thou will be their portion, that not only cast them in, but speaks all manner of evil against them? let this remain with thee and many more of thy brethren, the persecuting Rulers of England; the Lord lay it not to the charge of them who simply know not what they do, Father forgive them.  
And how can you be clear, and not guilty of all the Robberies, (committed at such a fit time as Thomas Atkin calls it) hurt to the Creatures, and of wasting and devouring the Creatures and the Creation thus upon your ungodly lust's time after time, by which you tempt and and provoke the eternal Spirit of the Lord God to smite you, and to give you up to the deceit and excess of your own hearts lusts.  
May not the Cutpurses, Pick-pokets and evil doers, say and rejoice in the strength of their wicked hearts, with such gladness that they have such fit opportunitiys, so frequently given them by the Governors, Magistrates, and earthly great men that should be more wise, and be good, sober, sound, savoury examples to all, and a terror to evil doers; and can you I say be clear of the same crimes that you will judge and condemn such vile Transgressor's for; be wise therefore and consider and remove the cause of such fit opportunities or times, as Thomas Atkins calls them.  
Now forasmuch as people that suffer in any degree at such seasons may say, if the Rulers and Magistrates did cease to proceed in their heathenish Idolatrous Abominations and vain glory, by which the Lord God is so highly dishonoured, tempted and provoked from time to time, (by which also many thousands of people gather together to gaze at folly and wickedness, and run greedily into the excess, pride, vanity, pleasures and hurtful lusts of the flesh, that war against the Lamb's Spirit, and neglect their honest employments, we should not thus suffer in any degree, when the fit time as thou calls it, or I say rather wicked and vain opportunities be removed and taken away.  
And this I may say to clear my Conscience on the Lord's behalf, and I know it of a truth, had not the Spirit of the most high been oppressed, vexed and grieved with the long continuance of your wicked heathenish actions, doubtless the Lord had not at any time sent any of his Messengers to testify against and reprove you, and to lay before you your mighty sins, and to cry aloud, and lift up their voices like Trumpets, though they be looked upon or esteemed by the unwise, as mad men, contrary to all men, for reproving you for your folly, vanity and wickedness, did it not thus abound in all Streets through the Nation, as the upright in heart feel something of the weight of your wickedness and great abominations, and the everlasting God will plead with his Righteous Judgement with you, for a sword is to pass through your Land, Oh ye stiffnecked Generation, for these things, and except you repent and departed from evil by the fear of the Lord, which is the beginning of Wisdom, the Light of the World, whose light is in every one of your Consciences, and with it you bring forth fruit meet for repentance unto life, as sure as the Lord God hath given you breath, you shall die in your sins, and this is love to thy soul, among the rest that lieth under the bondage of corruption.  
What I have suffered since I came into Prison is unexpressible because of sin, sinful men, ungodliness, blasphemy and profaneness that abounds, which with my precious life from time to time, I have Testified against, because of which I have endured the Contradictions of ungodly sinner's day by day, and as truly as the Soul of righteous Lot was vexed from day to day with the filthy Conversation of the wicked Sodomites, so certainly have I witnessed the like Condition in this noisome Prison, where wickedness and ungodliness daily abounds [and where is there a Prison in this Nation that is not as it were a Nursery for all manner of abominations, and the Rulers ought to see to it that they be not so, else will it not lie upon their heads, and is countenanced and upheld by the Keepers also, that should be, as every Magistrate ought to be, a just man of Truth, hating Covetousness and to despise and shake their hand at the gain of Oppression, and so to Rule over and be a good example, a terror to evil-doers, that such may go out with a reformed life, rather better then worse than when they came in; but contrariwise the chief Gaoler or Keeper hath gone about and endeavoured to limit the Spirit of the Lord; Behold, to his everlasting praise I testify that I have gladly received that into my heart to Rule me, and hath the pre-eminence, even the Spirit of Truth, the Light that reproves the world for sin, and with my life in my hand have I reproved and testified against wickedness and ungodliness, blasphemy, and the like evils that abound in this Prison, for which the Keeper Humphrey Gifford (a Professor of the Prophets, Christ and the Apostles good words) hath caused men to draw me away and cast me into a place where the filth of the prisoners run almost round about me, and this is of truth that I writ, and at that season my Testimony I declared and laid it upon his head, who Commanded me to be taken away because I Reproved blasphemy and ungodliness, he said, I spoke too loud, although unclean and ungodly Songs and wicked Revellings, as it were, made the house ring again immediately after, as at other seasons; and Humphrey Gifford will remember this when the hand of the Lord visits for all the deeds done in the body; and forasmuch as he who should have been a terror to evil doers, strengthened their hands by commanding violence to be done to me that Reproved sin and ungodliness with my life, the Lord is witness, and sundry men that are more sober than the rest, can also bear Record.  
And moreover, every first day of the Week, since I have been in Bonds, have the Prisoners done violence to me and my Friend Humphrey Bach●, and forced and carried us into the Hole of the Prison, and Locked us up by the Keeper's Order, because we could not for Conscience sake, but did refuse to enter into Covenant with them, viz. to be silent (and so limit the Spirit of the Lord, whose peculiar right only is to command the Tongue and every Member of our body at his good will in us to work) although such a thing be not demanded of any other of the Prisoners; and although we have been there while they have been at part of their Worship, and spoke never a word, yet have they abused, and then done violence and taken me up and carried me into the Hole and locked me up, and one Friend thrust out of Door by one Parrot a Turn-key, with such violence as if he would have broke her neck; and sometime after I asked him, saying, How if thou hadst broke her neck? Then I should be hanged for it, said he; And let the Magistrates consider, Whether such persons be fit to have any Authority, or at least to serve sober persons, and the Priests that profess themselves Ministers of Christ beholding such Cruelties, and not a mouth open to reprove them that do violence, (and one Priest, a prisoner for Debt, said in the hearing of many Witnesses; There was no way to Dispute with us but with blows. Let the sober mind weigh and judge of these things) But sometime standing behind the Door like a Thief and would not come in, as if he were ashamed to tell his Dream, or studied stuff, or Divination of his own brain, or to deliver his message, till we have been thus taken and carried violently out of his sight as Sheep to the slaughter, and cast into the Hole of the prison, and notwithstanding that Humphrey Gifford, chief Gaoler, had Covenanted with the Hired Priest, (and Judas Iscariot the Traitor went from the light, the unchangeable Priest, to the changeable Priests, and Covenanted with them to betray and ensnare the Innocent) that we should hear the Priest one time to try us; yet he saw and also confessed to a Friend, That the Priest his heart failed him so that he could not, or dare not come in, until we were carried away and l●cked up in the Hole (as at other times) but had he been a Minister of Christ he would not have been afraid or ashamed, neither would his heart have failed him, or feared the face of any man, but would with boldness without guilt upon the Conscience, which causeth the heart to fail, and bringeth shame, to have answered a sober question, which by one of them was denied, but would, if a Minister of Christ, or Spirit of Life, with all readiness of mind count it all joy to Convince the gain sayers by sound Doctrine; and if we were in Errors, as we are falsely accused, the Lord is witness he ought to do so, and bring his deeds to the light that they may manifestly appear before all that they are unreprovable, wrought in God, and if such hired Priests be Ministers of Christ or of the Spirit of Life, let such as fear and desire to fear the God of truth judge; And let this be a Warning to Humphrey Gifford, or any that sees the deceit of the Hirelings, (and I told one of them in the prison before he did fly, that he would make himself manifest to the people; and immediately he did fly, because he was a Hireling, and so the Scripture is fulfilled upon his head) lest such partake with them in their plagues; for behold the Lords hand is lifted up against the hired Priests and brutish Pastors of England that steal the Prophet's good words that were spoke freely forth, and boast in other men's lines made ready to their hand, which they make a Trade on through Covetous practices, beguiling unstable Souls, and keep them ever learning what to say, but like themselves do not.  
And the Cry that hath often passed through me, since I have been a Prisoner here, against the abominations in this prison, has been, O the Ungodliness, O the Oaths, O the Blasphemy, O the Cursed Speaking, O the ungodly Unclean Songs of the Drunkards, O the Deceit of the Priests, O the ungodly hard Speeches, O the Excess, O the Revellings, O the want of the poorer sort. O the unreasonableness of men hardened from God's fear, O the cruel Mockings & Revile from sinful men, O the Oppression, O the Extortion, O the wicked Customs; O let this enter into thy heart, O many, & lie even upon thine & the Keeper's head; who as for thy part, when I sent a Letter to thee in love to thy Soul, thou tore it to pieces and laughed, as I hear, not becoming thy Age, and grey Hairs, and place; but thou hast more need to weep and howl for the misery that is coming on thee because of thy mighty crying sins.  
And thou Humphrey Gifford, hath often by words our of thine own mouth rejected the Lords Testimony to my face from time to time, and this is truth whether thou canst believe me or nay, it will stand upon thy head, if happily thou find a place of Repentance unto life, the Lord lay not these things to your Charge; however so far have I cleared my Conscience, and my Peace in which I rest no man can take from me;  
From the Hole in the Inner-Prison in the Counter, the 19 of the ●th. Month, and 7 or last day of the week, and of the year according to the World's account, 1659.  
Who am a Friend to the whole Creation (that groans for Deliverance, and lieth under the bondage of corruption) and with that which judgeth the evildoer, but justifieth and giveth life to him whose deeds are wrought in God, in Truth, in Righteousness. Daniel Baker.  
The Original of this in Writing was delivered into the hand of Thomas Atkin, by a Friend of God's Truth, Elizabeth harris, who with much tenderness and bowels of Compassion tendered it to him, and spoke some good wholesome words, being grieved to see the injustice of such men as he, who instead of being ashamed of his perverseness, and disowning of his injustice and unequal proceeding against the Innocent, persisted and rejected wholesome Counsel, and spoke forth a most wicked Lie, saying, That I had gathered all the Pickpockets, Rogues and Whores in London about me, and that I was like to lie in Prison till I was dragged out; and Reviled the sober Messenger, saying to some that stood by, You may know that she is a Quaker by her Language; which I say is pure and true.  
Now I leave this to the witness in all sober people's Consciences to judge whether such a man befit to Rule over men, It's like I might be about an hour and half at the Mayor's Gate, and it would be much if all the pick-pockets, and all the Whores, and all the Rogues in London should be gathered together in so little time, except they had been summoned beforehand; but I deny such unclean vile Transgressor's with my precious Life the Lord is witness; and seeing if Thomas Atlin knew so well of so many Cutpurses, pick-pockets, Whores and Rogues were gathered together, I say it had been a fit time for him, and many more of his Brethren, to have laid the Sword upon such vile Transgressor's, and not to have let them gone free and condemn the guiltless by throwing Truth's testimony into prison within and without; But I have spoke enough, and my Reward is with the Lord, though Thomas Atkin have unwisely rejected his Testimony with many more, who greedily are hastening farther under the vail of thick darkness, therefore their glory which is their shame is to be made manifest to all, that others may learn wisdom by the fear of the Lord, which is to departed from evil.  
A Copy of another Letter from Thomas Atkin, with something added in Answer.  
DAniel Baker, I this day had brought me by a Sister of yours a large Discourse, but little to any good purpose; you magnify yourself in your Gifts, as if no man have such Knowledge as yourself; you may know much, but your Practice is far short of what you seem to know; [Mark] you vilify our Ministers and Ministry, and call our Church's Mass-houses; your language and terms are provoking: Cannot you and them of your gang be quiet and exercise your Gifts in your own Meeting-places, but disturb us in our Congregations, and Act in the Streets in a most uncivil manner, like distracted men then sober persons, 
* 
How if thou had been in the days of the holy Prophets Isaiah and Ezekiel, to have seen one go naked and bear a sign three years, and another to bake his bread with man's dung or Cow's dung at the Commandment of the Lord, its like thou would not have ceased to falsely accuse them to be distracted and uncivil persons, madmen, and the like.  
But why should the Spirit of the holy One be limited, resisted, or stopped (that made the body and every member of his Creature Man) from Commanding, or his Creature male or female from subjecting to their Lords Command in or by their body, without respect of the outward adorning Life; men's persons, time, place, or days, that the Will of the Almighty Lord of Heaven and Earth might be done in it as it is in the new Heaven and in the new Earth, that the Inhabitants of the world might cease to do evil, and learn to do Righteousness, even as he is Holy and Righteous that calleth his people out of Babel, the Land of Darkness and Confusion, lest while they partake of her sins they partake of her plagues and judgements; Lo the same voice cries now in these latter days, He that hath an Ear to hear let him hear, and come forth, and turn to the Light that's low in the heart, freely from the Lord given to thee.   drawing Tumults about you to the disturbance of our Peace; You and your Companions profane the Lords Day, some opening their Shops on that day, which we can no ways allow of; you make a great Complaint of the Jailor and his Under Officers; I doubt not but there is great Fault in all of them, there is no Good to be learned in such places, and I believe it is a Grief to all good People to see and hear such Sins daily committed in such places; and if it lieth upon your Spirit as you Writ it doth, (●his is false, I Writ not so, but I was burdened with the crying Abominations of the City and Prison, Lo in that fear and wisdom of my Lord and Master, Christ the Light, I have cleared my Conscience, whether thou and them who are the Cause of it hear or forbear.) I marvel you will stay so long in that place; If your Under Keeper bring you to my House that I may talk with you, I may perhaps see Cause that you shall Return thither no more; when you are weary of your Company you may take my Advice, and so I leave you, Resting  
Your well-wishing Friend, THOMAS ATKIN. London, the 24 of Novemb.  
After I had Written an Answer to the late Letter the 25 of the 9th. Month in the Morning, from the Lord had I freedom to pass forth to Thomas Atkin with the Letter, and with the words of my Mouth to lay his wicked lies and false and unjust Accusations and Proceed upon his own Head, and to warn him on the Lord's behalf, who with his Servants are and will be clear of his Blood if he die in his Sins, with many more that reject the Truth, and persecute the life of it, as its appearance is brought forth in, and by the Friends of Christ Jesus the light of the World, that lighteth every man that cometh into the World.  
FRIEND,  
DId thou never read Christ's words in the Scriptures of Truth, which saith, For every idle word that men shall speak they shall give Account in the day o● Judgement, and all Liars shall have their part in the Lake that burns with Fire and Brimstone; And how is it thou do not fear and tremble before the living God that hath given thee breath, but in the hardness of thy heart and impenitency (instead of laying thy sad wretched and miserable estate to heart, when it's so plainly laid before thee, had not the god of the World altogether blinded thine eye thou might see so much O man) who yet fear not to heap up false Accusations (against the Innocent) which thou and many more are truly guilty of, as I have sufficiently proved to thee, who most wickedly and profanely, said to my Friend the Messenger this morning, That I had gathered all the Pickpockets, and Whores, and Rogues in London about me; a wicked Lie; so I turn it back upon thy head, O man what will be thy end?  
Art thou fit to bear the Name of a Ruler, a Christian, a Magistrate, a Justice of Peace which should be a terror to the Liar, the false Accuser, the Evildoer, and not fear the God of Truth thyself, but speak such most wicked Lies and false Accusations, (to the shame of thy greedy dark Teachers) the Lord's witness in thy Conscience, when the Lord visits for all the Deeds done in thy body will bring them into remembrance, and judge and condemn thee for the evil; and behold I yet call for thee to Repent and hearken to the witness in thee oppressed, and cease from thy wickedness left thou die in thy sins, who writ to me in thy late Letter after thou have undeservedly spoke contemptiously and vilely of me, and of what I writ in love to thy Soul.  
Thou say I vilify your Ministers and Ministry; Thou err in saying so; for I do not vilify them in speaking the Truth of or concerning them, as thou may read and understand by what I have written to thee; but can I speak more vilely of them then thou in thy Letter to me, saying, There is no good to be learned in such places, and thou dost believe its a grief to all good people to see and hear such sins daily committed in such places (viz. Prisons) to thy own shame thou have written this (better a millstone were hanged about the neck of such as offend Christ's little ones by casting them into such places) and much more to the vilifying [as thou call it] of the hired Priests that take so much Quarterly gain (or yearly gain from their Quarter) to deceive the poor Prisoners who can learn no good here though they preach for Hire so often, so that thou have confirmed what I have truly written; and is it not time for them to be silent that are in deceit, in an evil way, how can they teach the good old way who are out of it themselves; consider of this and Repent. Another Charge thou layst to me, is for calling the Churches made with hands, Mass-houses; Did not the Pope's adherents build them to say Mass in, and give them their Monks and Saints Names, as St. Gregory, St. Dunston, St. Sepulchre, St. Katherine, St. Antlin, St. Rood, St. Giles, St. Clement, etc. And how is it thou art so blind and dark, and called a Magistrate, and yet know not the Church of the living God, which is the pillar and ground of Truth, from an old Popish Masse-house made up of Lime and Stone with men's hands where God dwells not, and dost not thou blaspheme to call that a Church which is not, but I may say a figure of thy hard heart, who art yet a member of such a Church which is not the body of Christ; See Col. 1.24. The true Church is the Body of Christ; but I deny with my life a stony Idols Temple (Steeple house, or Masse-house) that it is the Church or Body of Christ, or the pillar and ground of Truth which is the Church of the living God; behold thy blasphemy and the damnable error of thy dark Teachers.  
And why dost thou continue heaping false Accusations upon me and my dear friends the Lords Servants that Worship him in Spirit and in Truth, and deny the Pope and his Adherents Doctrines, heathenish Traditions. Customs, and vain Fashions of the World that lieth in wickedness, the Lord will judge thee for these things; while thou have time Repent and prise it.  
Thou tell me of my Friends Opening Shops on the Lord's Day; but which day of the Week is not the Lords that made them. The Apostles Doctrine i●, One man esteemeth one day above another, another esteemeth every day alike; but what shall be done to such? he doth not say, Away to Prison with them, beat them, spoil their goods, persecute them, or we can no ways allow of it, as thou say; Nay, but thus it's written; Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind, See Rom. 14.5. Remember thou art sufficiently warned from this day forward (seeing the Lord hath given thee and many more a day of visitation, of salvation, whether it be received or rejected) that thou have not a hand in persecuting any for conscience sake, or for reproving sin in the gate, in the Mass-house or open street, lest the Lord with a quick and mighty stroke, as in a moment smite thee and take away the desire of thine eyes, who art yet false accusing me and my Friends, saying, Cannot you and them of your gang (with such reproachful and unsavoury words) be quiet,— but disturb us in our Congregations, and act in the open streets in a most uncivil manner, liker distracted men then sober persons, drawing tumults about you, to the disturbance of our peace.  
Know thou that if the King of darkness, of Babylon, of Confusion, did (or may) send greetings of peace (as in another case) to all that did or doth dwell in the earth, Dan. 6.25. yet the Prince of Life & King of Righteousness, Christ the Light of the World comes not to send peace on the Earth, but a Sword, see Luke 10.34, 35. and the Angel cries, woe, woe, woe to the Inhabitants of the Earth; Therefore think it not strange that your peace is broken, or disturbed, for no peace to wicked, but fear God, Repent and bring forth fruits meet for repentance unto life, lest thou die in thy sins, for this is of truth that I writ, whether thou hear or forbear,  
From the Hole of the inner Prison in the Poultry Counter, this 24 of the 9 mo. 1659. From thy Soul's Friend that writes his name, Daniel Baker.  
Here followeth a Copy of a Letter sent from a Friend of God's Truth, to Thomas Allen Mayor of the City London.  
THomas Allen; Ah Friend, what is this that thou hast done in this thy proceeding against me, and to separate me from my family where there is so much need of me, which thou little regardest, but exerciseth cruelty on that day, the first day which thou calls the Sabbath or Lords day, even without mercy? Yet thou knows or should know, that he or they that rule over men should be just men, men of truth, ruling in the fear of God.  
Friend, I was the last first day of the week save one in my shop in God's fear, exercing my Conscience void of offence towards God and man, doing no evil in word or deed to Man, Woman or Child; for my Religion which is Pure, is to keep unspoted of the World, and so cannot join one with the World, in observing one day above another, but esteem every day alike, and am fully persuaded in mine own mind, and know that the Kingdom of Heaven comes not with outward observation, and that to the Lord all days are alike good, and that it is the will of God our Sanctification to be Holy, as God is Holy, every day in all manner of conversation, to do Justly, to love Mercy, and to walk humbly with or before the Lord God who searcheth the Heart. And who have learned and are taught this by the Grace of God, which brings Salvation, which hath appeared unto all men, even to deny ungodliness and worldly lusts, and to live Righteously, Soberly and Godly in this present World, to such all days are alike who are Godlike; for the Lord God made every day good, and every Child of God that is born of God who is Light, walks in the Light, Christ the good day that Abraham saw and was glad, which is the true Rest, which the Sabbath that was given to the Jews for a Sign, was a shadow of; even of the Substance, Christ the Light, the good day of God, the rest; which remains, in whom all the Shadows, Signs, and day's end. And who now are rooted in him, and built up in him, Christ the Light, and walk in the Light (which through believing in are become Children of) and are joined and united to the Body, Christ the substance that ends the shadows, they dwelling in God who is light, are freed from the begarly Rudiments, and cannot be in any wise brought into bondage to them again to observe days, or esteem one day above another; and they now whose life is in observing of days, which were appointed & given as shadows and signs of the substance their life is not yet in the substance Christ the Light, but in the Signs & shadows, and so as yet know not Christ the Light manifest in their flesh, to redeem out of the bondage of corruption, but still remain children of the Bondwoman, under the bondage of sin an Satan, and so are not holy any day of the week, and then, cannot keep or walk holily on the first day of the week, or on any day else.  
But prithee consider, if thou have a Law for what thou doth against me, and wouldst have me and all men account thee a just man, as thou ought to be (and art called a Justice) for I and all men may judge of thee to be a Justice, and a just man, if thou do justice impartially without respect of persons; Now, how hast thou so dealt with me to send me to prison for opening my windows, and because I will not shut them at the Marshal thy servants pleasure, I being a Free man of the City in equity ought to have as much freedom in opening my windows and to keep them open, as thou to command thy Servant and horses to labour on the first day of the week; therefore if thou wilt do justice without partiality, command the Marshal thy servant to carry thee to Prison, and if thou be not willing to go so, at his word, in the Name of the Keepers of the liberties of England, if the Marshal's servant thrust thee violently out of thy doors as he did me, why let it be so; and if another of his servants take hold on thee, and kick thee very wickedly and violently as he did me, why, bear it; and if he take thee by the Collar of thy doublet and band on both sides thy neck, and shake thee as a Dog would worry a Sheep, as one of the Marshal's Servants did me, and the other carrying a stick under my back, lifted it up quick on purpose to have me fall on it to hurt me, let him do so to thee and bear it, and when they have halled thee and dragged thee to the Poultry Counter gate, if the Marshal's Servant search and rifle thy pockets, and take what he will out, and give thee what he will again as he did by me, the Marshal standing by, and then thrust thee into a ho●l betwixt the doors of the Prison, why, be content; and speak Truth, and thou may say, I in commanding my Servants and Horses to work, am as great a Transgressor and offender, as be that open his Shop Windows (if it be a transgressior) and was thus dealt withal; and thou may say I shall not mend my behaviour in commanding my man and horses not to work on the first day of the week, being one of the six on which God commanded men should labour; And then thou may say, if I be kept there in the hole of the Prison, till I have learned to do justice without respect of Persons, I deservedly suffer. But this man committed to Prison from Tower street, was badly dealt withal and cruelly persecuted by reason of my order, when I should have been a terror to evil doers that harmed him, and I have not yet learned to do justice without respect of persons:  
Friend, let it sink down into thee, the sense of this thy unjust dealing with me and repent. And send me word what thou intendest to do with me, and consider if thou would in thy will send me to prison, whether thou ought not to have signified under thy hand in writing the Crime thou layest against me; in such a matter Noble Festus, the Professors call a heathen, will condemn thee, see Acts. 25. for this day I asked (the Turn-key) for a copy of the Mittimus by which I was committed to Prison, and his answer was, there is none, though now it be about ten days since I was cast into Prison. Now consider if it be not a thing unreasonable to send a prisoner, and not to signify to the Prisoner and gaoler the Crimes laid against him. And if thou art an unreasonable man, what justice can any expect from thee, if thou art a reasonable man, discover it hereafter before all men, in doing justly, loving mercy, and walking humbly before the Lord God; if thou go onto persecute the Innocent, I know it will be bitterness in the latter end.  
From the Lord's Prisoner for the testimony of a good Conscience, in denying the Sign, and witnessing the substance, A Friend to thy precious soul but an enemy to injustice and persecution, Humphrey Bache. The Inner Prison called the Hole in the Poultry Counter, the 29th of the 9 month, 1659.  
Consider whether or no thou provide for my Children and Family, who have not a Wife to look to them in my absence, who cast me into Prison for working on that day which thou make thy Horse's work, is not this partiality and contrary to the Law of God, that the Creatures should work that day that man should not work; but surely if you did take as much care for the Poor, and Beggars, and Children, and Fatherless, and Widows, and Cripples at your Steeplehouse Doors, and Alleys, and Corners of Streets; your Women with Two or Three Children in their Laps crying for Bread, thou would not turn the Sword against me as thou dost, but relieve them and see that they were relieved, for it is a grief to hear such a Cry in your Streets, besides Drunkards, Oaths in Taverns and Alehouses, Tiplinghouses, Prisons and places of pleasure, Bowls, Plays, shows, the vanities that's acted and done in the City under the Government here, which makes the streets even to stink again, to loath and Surfeit and defile Nature, for the shameless, unlearned, untaught, unsavoury carriages among people are we moved of the Lord God, at the Command of Christ Jesus the Righteousness of God to cry Repentance among you, to go in Sackcloth and Ashes among you, and to go naked among you, a figure of your nakedness of the garments of Righteousness, which should be a praise in your streets, and to cry against your Idolatrous Worship, the preaches for money by the Hourglass, who have not profited the people at all, but such as teachers for filthy lucre and bear Rule by their means, and Divine for money and teaches for the fleece, that seeketh their gain from their Quarter, greedy dumb Dogs that can never have enough, are such as fit this people.  
Now if people bid a Drunkard he should not be drunk, a Swearer he should not swear, a Liar he should not lie, we are called peace-breakers, and prisoned by you; Oh! the Righteous suffer and are grieved to see so much Feasting and Superfluity of all things in abundance among you, and yet let your brethren and fellow-members lie crying up and down streets for bread, and have no compassion or bowels of mercy.  
And your Shows and your Plays of all sorts, and call people together with Trumpets to it, this now is not called as Evil among you; but if a man go and warn sinners to Repentance, he shall be cast into prison; so he that reproves evil in the gate is become a prey among you; you that say the Scripture is your Rule, the Apostle saith you should not judge one another about days, one man did observe a day, another did not, the Apostles judgement was, Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind; and why could not you be satisfied seeing I am fully persuaded in my own mind, but if you make an Idol of a day, God will abhor you.  
Since I was freed out of prison, Thomas Atkin with bitter enmity met me in the street, and he drew near, and said, That we were a burden to all places where we come; And I answered, That we were a burden to wicked Magistrates and wickedness where we come; and I say we know it's written, The burden of the Word of the Lord for Israel [saith the Lord] which stretcheth forth the Heavens, and layeth the foundation of the Earth, and formeth the Spirit of man within him, (mark that.)  Behold I will make Jerusalem a Cup of trembling unto all the People round about, when they shall be in the Siege both against Judah and against Jerusalem, and in that day will I make Jerusalem a burdensome Stone for all people, all that burden themselves with it shall be cut i● in pieces though all the people upon the Earth be gathered together against it, Zach. 12. 
THE END.