For the King, and His Council at White-Hall. Being a Brief Relation of some of the Cruel, and Inhuman Usage, and great Persecution and Imprisonment of above Four Thousand Two Hundred and Thirty of the People of God, in Scorn called QUAKERS, for Worshipping of God, and Meeting together in the fear of the Lord; and for Obeying Christ's Commands, who saith, Swear not at All; and for Testifying to the Truth, and keeping their Consciences clear towards God and Man. In Prison in LONDON, and the Suburbs 500 WHo are so Thronged in Prisons and Holes, (and many without Straw) that they cannot lie down altogether, many not having a Foot square of room a piece allowed them; some are forced to stand, while others lie down, and some are carried out Sick; and one is carried out of the White-Lyon prison in Southwark Dead, being driven Twenty five Miles like Sheep, and over heat, and then put up in a close Prison: And in that prison the Theives tear off their from their Backs, and rob them of their Money and Goods, to the Value of Thirty pounds; in which Wickedness the Gaoler Tolerated them; and the Meat hath been taken away which hath been brought to them. So consider, what men will bring upon themselves, if they go on in these ways; and if they were not a Chaste people (indeed) it were enough to bring Sicknesses and Diseases among them: and many are sick in Newgate, and some carried out Sick, and one carried out Dead. HARTFORD-SHIRE 140. SOme lying in Dungeons, where there are Vaults or Pits to fall into; and one Woman big with Child Dead, by reason of the Abuses and Violence acted by them that took her Husband away, as her Neighbours certified; and they are so Thronged in Prison, they can hardly Stand or Lie; and further threatened with Dungeons and Fetters. BERK-SHIRE 40. THere they did at first lie in Dungeons without Straw, being denied Food for many days by the Gaoler, and he denied them the common Air that he let Felons have, though he confessed he was afraid, there being so many together, would breed Infection. KENT 100 IN the several Prisons and Dungeons, and denied Friends to Visit them; and have had Dirt, Stones, and pails of Water thrown upon them in Prison; and denied Straw to Lie on; and forced to Ease themselves in the place where they Lie and Eat; and not suffered to fetch Water, though it be in the Prison, to clean their Room. SUSSEX 45. WHo are (many of them) poor Labouring Men, who were taken from their Houses and Employments, and their houses Rifled. HAMP-SHIRE 81. INnocent Men and Women, who lie, many of them in Dungeons, and Meat and other Necessaries denied them, and their taken away from them; and one was Beaten by the Theives till he was almost Dead; and their Goods taken away, and Drunkards take possession of their Houses, and make great Fires with their Wood, and force the Servants and Children away; and carried away their Goods by Cart Loads, to the Value of Five or 600l. and Drink, and Rant, and Swear in their Houses. 73 TAken from their Meetings, Markets, and Shops, and some Beat and Struck with Swords, and cast into Nasty Holes and Dungeons, and Felons suffered to take away their , and Eleven of their Hats, and sold them for Drink, and said they had an Order from Col. Strangwayes. And at Pool they Haled out people that were Worshipping of God, and carried out a Weak Man betwixt Four of them; two taking him by his Legs, and two by his Arms, and stiflled his Senses, and threw him on his Back before the Mayor, who cried, Hang him Rogue: And so sent him to Prison, with Thirteen more. SOMMERSET-SHIRE 180. TAken from their Meetings, and some in the High Ways, and some from the Plough, and some from their Houses; and some had their Blood shed, and were kicked and beat, and wonderfully abused, and not suffered to have provision brought them; and one Man had his Shirt taken from him to pay them that carried him to Prison, and many Friends Goods have been taken away to pay them that go with them to Prison, and many Clothiers are taken away that set many Families to work, and some driven by Horsemen into Ditches, and some into Pools, to the endangering of their Lives, and their Provision taken from them, and burned in the fire by Soldiers; and some thrust into Holes on Tops of Houses, that they have hardly room to lie; And they have fettered six Friends to six Felons in Irons, and the Gaoler denies their Wives and Children to visit them; and he demands more of them for a little Air and Ease in a Week, than the poor people could earn in a Week if they were at Liberty: And besides, the cruelty of the Gaoler is such that it can hardly be uttered. And some being dragged out of their Houses (for worshipping God) were brought before two Captains, who fell upon them, bea, them, and wounded them. 100 THere the People of God lie in Dungeons and Nasty Holes; and so many have been their abuses, that it is hard to number them. Many Widows, Girls, and some of 80. years of Age, and poor Men ESSEX 96 SOme of which are shut up in Holes like Ovens in an old Castle, having nothing but Straw to Lie on; and dragged up and down from place to place, and drawn like Sheep by Armed Men, and Horsemen, and then shut up in Holes again, with Straw, being Innocent. NORFOLK 75 MEn and Women taken out of their Beds, and out of their own Houses at Midnight without Warrant, and some out of their Meetings: And they that took them, said, They were for Slaying and Killing. And many were Fined forty Shillings a piece for not taking the Oath of Allegiance, and Imprisoned till payment. And the Prisons are so Full, that they can hardly Sat or Lie one by another: And Men and Women separated from their Families and Children. SUFFOLK 89. SOme taken from their labours, others from their Houses, and cast into nasty Holes, where Men in fullness, would hardly put their Dogs; and after the Officers had rifled many of them, and found them Innocent, yet they sent them to Prison. LINCOLNSHIRE 85 DRoven up and down, and put into Prisons and Dungeons, and close Places, where they can hardly Lie or Sat; and though there be room enough in the Prison, yet the Gaoler denies it them, except they would give a bigger rate than the poor Men could get by their Labours if they were at Liberty. YORKSHIRE 400 TAken out of their Houses, and from their Employments, and Meetings, and knocked down, and their Blood shed by Armed Men, and thrust up into close Prisons, and Dungeons, and their own House Doores Nailed up, and their Houses kept from them, and Drives, and Forces Men and Women into Prison, that the Prisons are so full, that if they go on thus persecuting, the Prisons will not hold the Prisoners, whom they thus shut up by Heaps and Hundreds. CHESHIRE 138 TAken out of their Meetings, and from their Employments, and put into Prisons, and almost all the Friends in two Hundreds were Fined one Shilling a Day, and their Goods strained to a great Value for not going to the Steeplehouse, and Women seized upon in their Beds, and Drove all Night in the Dirt, and then put up a amongst Men, and 68 thrust up in a little Room, and others in a little narrow Room, and are not suffered to go forth to buy them a little bread, nor get a little water. LANCASHIRE 280 SOme whole Families, Men, Women and Children, and Servants taken from their Houses, and drove like Flocks of Sheep to Lancaster Castle, many being sent without Warrant or Mittimus, and Women of 60. or 70. years old drove forty Miles, and put up in Lancaster Castle, and their very Houses and Estates laid waste; and their Sufferings are so many, in this County, and grievous, they can hardly be numbered. LEICESTER-SHIRE 25 TAken from their Houses, and from their Employments, and cast into Goal, where they are not suffered to have necessary things brought to them as Men. WESTMORELAND 120 BEing taken from their Meetings, and some fetched from their Houses, others from their Shops, and other Employments; and many committed, and put together, and their own House made a Prison of, and afterwards carried to several Prisons: And some of this before the Proclamation was Proclaimed. CUMBERLAND 35 TAken from their Houses, and out of their Meetings, and in Markets, both Men and Women, and sent to Carlisle Dungeon, and Holes, Wives great with Child, and there lie under cruel Sufferings. DURHAM 100 TAken out of their Meetings, and some from their Employments, and cast into Nasty Holes and Dungeons; some taken from their beds, and this before the Proclamation. And the place is so Nasty, that the Gaoler said, He would not put his Dog in it; where the Sheriff seeing their grievous Sufferings said, Woe is my Soul, I Suffer with you. 240 TAken out of their Houses, and from their Employments, and in the High Ways, and their moneys taken away as they were travelling, and they cast into Prison, and the Gaoler would not let them have food brought to them, though they offered 2d. in the shilling Profit, and are kept in a straight Prison & Dungeon 20 steps deep in the Ground, and are forced to Ease themselves in the Room where they Lodge and Eat, and not suffered to clean it, and are Chained and Fettered, and Friends denied Visiting of them, and to bring them Necessaries, who Lie in Straw, and can scarce get that; and such as come to taken from their Dwellings, and their Houses left Desolate; and one Friend through Cruelty and hard Usage, died in Prison; being driven by Drunken Men that could hardly fit on their Horses, and some were beat, bruised and knocked down, and their taken from them, and not so much as a Mat allowed them to lie on. And the Gaoler encouraged the Theives and Felons to take their from them, and one was wounded; and the Constable threatened to take away a Cow, to pay for carrying some of them to Prison, and took five Shillings from one of the prisoners Wives: And a Justice smote one William Hibbs a Friend on the Head, and set him in the Stocks all night; and a Widow had a Child lay sick, and they would not suffer her to take order with any to look after it. WILT-SHIRE 42 TAken out of their Shops, and other Places; and after they had sent them to Prison, took away their Goods to Ruin their Families; and some had their taken away by the Constable for carrying them to Prison, where they lie in Holes; some being suffered to have Straw, and some none. WORCESTER-SHIRE 197. THere the people of God are thrown into Holes and Dungeons, and denied Straw to Aged Men, and denied necessary food to be brought to them, and they can hardly stir, being so thronged up, Men and Women, and are almost starved and smothered, and their Children left crying in the Streets, and Women 70. or 80. years of Age set in the Stocks several hours together. OXFORD-SHIRE 88 MAny poor Labouring Men taken out of their Houses and Shops, others out of the High Ways, and kept in Dungeons and close Places, so that many are sick; and some beat, so that their bodies are cruelly bruised; and had Irons put on them that are Innocent, who lift up a hand against none. SHROP-SHIRE 54 TAken from their Shops and Employments, and thrust into Dungeons, where they are like to be choked, and are denied necessaries, and Pen and Ink taken from them, that they cannot make their case known, and Bills and Bonds taken from them; and if any come to visit them with necessaries, they cast them into Prison, and fire Muskets at them, and throw things at them if they look but out for a little air, and wounded one with a Pike, and run at another with a Sword. STAFFORD-SHIRE 35. TAken from their Houses, and Ploughs, and Shops, Men of 60. and 70. years of Age; many Families all the men taken away, by which they cannot follow their Callings, and two Boys whipped and stocked, being under Age, and could not take the Oath, and the rest kept in close Prisons. BUCKINGHAM-SHIRE 61 PUT into a Noisome Prison, and Coale-hole, and denied the Liberty that other Prisoners have. CAMBRIDGSHIRE 156 MEn, Women, Widows and Fatherless Children of 9 or 10. years Old, and People of 60. or 70. years of Age, cast into Holes and Noisome Places, and their Children left crying in the Streets, having none left to look after them, their Habitations left Desolate, and are like to perish, and the Gaoler took away their and bedding from them. HUNTINGTONSHIRE 20 FEtched from their Houses and Habitations, and carried into close Prisons, where necessaries were hindered from being brought to them as Men, one of which is Dead in Prison. BEDFORD-SHIRE 60 THrust into a close Prison, whereof Fifty are in a close straight Place where many are sick and weak and likely to perish. NORTHAMPTONSHIRE 82 SOme taken out of their Houses, others Watched for until they came into their Houses, and some Imprisoned for going to hear the Trial of their Friends at Sessions, and some out of their peaceable Meetings, and put into Dungeons, a great way under ground, and kept a week without necessary food to be brought to them, and some kept by Officers in a Narrow Room, and yet the Officers took 30s. from them; and they are so thronged in the Dungeons, that some sit up all night, and with lying so thick and close many are weak, and the Gaoler stops their Provision, and saith he will have a penny in the shilling for their bread, though their Friends bring it them, and those that bring it, the Gaoler kicks and beats, and claps them into Prison: so what they get is through a little hole. Visit them are Imprisoned, and both Wife and Children denied to bring them Necessaries, and a 100 were kept Prisoners in the Steeplehouse in Long-Compton. DEVON-SHIRE 160 TAken out of their Houses, and from their Labours and Meetings, in which they Edified one another, and are kept up in straight and close Prisons, all the Men-Friends in Plymouth; and many of this County being Tradesmen, who kept many people at Labour. CORNWALL 50 TAken out of their Houses and Meetings, and cast into Nasty Holes, and Dungeons. BRISTOL 191 WEre Imprisoned, being taken out of their Meetings by much Violence, again and again, and Guards set at their Doors. CARDIFF 33 TAken out of their Meetings and Houses, and put into a Cruel Goal, where they are much straightened. MUNMOUTH 10 TAken out of their Houses, and put into a close Prison, and dragged like Horses through the dirt in the Night Season. HEREFORD-SHIRE 35 TAken out of their Houses, and peaceable Meetings, and committed to Prison, and none suffered to come at them to bring them Provision, but as they drew it up by a Rope from the ground. NOTTINGHAMSHIRE 37 TAken out of their Houses and peaceable Meetings, and cast into Nasty Prisons and Holes. RUTLAND-SHIRE 4 TAken out of their Houses, and committed to Prison. ANd many People that have kept their Beds, & long been Sick & Lame with Sores upon them, have they carried before Magistrates, & cast into Prison, where they lie very Sick & Weak in Prison, not suffered to have Straw, many of them; and many of these, were taken up before the Proclamation. And Women great with Child have been haled and abused without pity; no regard being shown to either Sex or Condition. And Women are shamefully abused, and their Husbands cast into Noisome Dungeons, and their Children left Fatherless, and Motherless. Queen Mary's Law was nothing like this Linger Martyrdom, that puts Men and Women in Holes, and will not let them have Straw nor Meat; and they are fain to Ease themselves in the same Room where they Lodge, and Eat, enough to Poison them; by which several are Sick, and some Dead. And these are but a part which are come to our Hands from the General Prisons of the Counties; for in many other private Corporations, there are many that are not yet come to our Hands; and if you do not put a stop to these things, you will bring Innocent Blood upon yourselves. And through the 30 men's Rising in the City, have you brought this Persecution upon us Causelessly, who themselves cleared us when they were Condemned at the Sessions; therefore we are exceedingly wronged. And this we would desire of you, To restore our Meetings, and to set all our Friends at Liberty: And as you have made us Transgressor's by a Proclamation publicly to the Nations, That you would give forth another Proclamation to clear our Innocency before the Nations again, which we do believe you know we are Innocent, and do not deserve these Bonds and Afflictions. Oh the Hardheartedness, and Unchristian State, to cause so many Men, Women and Widows that are Innocent, and for Worshipping of God to be cast into Prisons and Dungeons, and their Trades and Husbandry spoiled, their Families Ruined, and laid Waste, and their Children left Crying in the Streets! We whose Names are Subscribed, do in the Humility of Heart, and the Fear of the Lord, in behalf of our Suffering Brethrens, Present this to your Serious Consideration, and do wait at your Door desiring your Answer. Robert Wastfeild William Travers John Dando William Stordy John Osgood Thomas Coveny Thomas Pits Giles Silvester Gobert Sikes Gilbert Latye William Simson READERS: THese things Foregoing (except some little Addition that came since) were delivered to the King and his Council to be read amongst them, that they might Consider of the Inhuman, Unnatural, and Unchristianlike Practices that are acted in this Day on an Innocent People; that if there were any Tenderness in People, it were enough to break their Hearts: And the Council, upon the View thereof, appointed the Deliverers to come again the next Council Day. All which is but an Abstract of their Many and Cruel Sufferings, which are so great, that they cannot be contained in a little Room; and so Cruelly and Unmercifully are they used, as hereafter you may more fully see, which shortly are to be Published, of above 5000. Men and Women cast into Prisons, whose Trades and Husbandry lies waste, some of which lies in Straw, in Holes and Dungeons, and a full Account is not yet come to our Hands. And it may be taken notice of, that in the days of Oliver and Richard Cromwell, and in the Commonwealth's days, we suffered for our Conscience Sake, and bearing Testimony to the Truth, as it is in Jesus; and because we could not swear in any Case. ANd for which we can make it appear, there have suffered Imprisonments, Stockings, Whip, Loss of Goods, and other Abuses in their days aforesaid— 3179— Persons And there lies yet in Prison that were committed in the Names of the Commonwealth, and Oliver and Richard Cromwell— 79— Persons And there died (in their days) in Prison, through hard Usage— 32— Persons And there have died Prisoners, one before this late Proclamation, and 5. since, through the cruel hard Usage in Prisons— 6— Persons LONDON, Printed for Robert Wilson, at the Black-spread-Eagle and Windmill in martin's Le Grand.