The New and Strange Imprisonment Of the People called QUAKERS In the CITY of BRISTOL.  
By Nailing them up in their Meeting House the 7th. of the third Month called May, 1682.  
And the Result of the Trial, upon the tense of a Riot against them. Signified by Persons of Credit, and immediate Sufferers in the said City. To be added to their late Distressed Ease.  
They shall be Ashamed of their Envy against my People,  Isa. 26. 11. 

Bristol Newgate Prison, the 8th of the 3d Month May, 1682. Dear Friend,  
AS to our Meeting Yesterday, the Sheriff, etc. came about Ten in the Morning: Proclamation was made. The Meeting not departing immediately thereupon he caused the Doors to be Nailed up upon them, (having first sent seven Men Friends hither) and so kept Eight● seven Women and fourteen till three in the Afternoon, (which was five Hours in that Confinement in their Meeting Room) allowing no way out for any Necessity: Which was not only Arbitrary, but an Inhuman Act.  
In the Afternoon, the Meeting was at the Door of the other Meetinghouse; whereto came Tilly, etc. This Meeting began, as usual, about Twelve. Friends not departing on Command, were Fastened in, there also; and kept in the Rain (it being an open Court) till between four and five in the Afternoon. And then many, or most of them, were had to the Tolzey, before the Deputy Mayor John Hix. Who after a while was pleased to let them all go home, to appear to day, which many of them did. The Prosecutors aim to make a Riot of this Afternoon Meeting: Because when the Door was opened, our Friends pressed to go out, to go to their Homes. The Justices to day could not accord about it: So they were dismissed till to Morrow Morning. A more punctual Account, I hope some Friends will send up. The seven men were sent for from hence also, and Discharged. Doubtless it's not the King's mind, that under colour of Execution of the Law, we should be abused contrary thereunto. We are now Nineteen Prisoners here.  
Thy Affectionate Loving Friend.   

Bristol the 10th of the 3d. Month May 1682.  
LAst Post a short Account was given of the Disturbance of our two Meetings the last First day, the Issue of which was not determined till Yesterday, when a Jury was Impanelled, in order to Inquire after a Riot. Patrick the Abusive Constable and Informer, Swore at a great rate, and so did another, (whose Name I have not yet an Account of.) The substance was, that about Thirty of the Women came and forcibly opened the Door, and laying Hands on him, they Rescued themselves from the place they were Confined to.  
The Justices were not very Credulous of the Informers, knowing the Improbability of our Women Friends laying Violent Hands on the Officers; so gave the Women liberty to make their own Defence, which was performed in good Language, and very Succinct. They told the Justices, how they were there Peaceably met. And how the Officers and Informers Guarded the Door, and Imprisoned them; by reason they did not immediately depart, after their Proclamation. That after this Confinement, they took liberty to call out six or eight, (one while) and dismiss them. Then to call again, and do the same to another, such like.  
Further, the one Informer commanded several of them to Bridewell: And yet Helliar called them back, after they were far on their way; and remanded them to the Confinement at their Meeting place. That when the usual time was come for their Departure. They rose in a Body, and were going Peaceably away. That some of them were got almost as far as the Street, without any molestation. And that then, they were all brought back again to the Confinement of the Meeting place, and there kept in the Rain. The Informers, without regard to their Sex; Age or Quality, (some of which were considerable, as Martha the late Widow of Sheriff ●●●ne, her Sister Sarah Can, Mary Gouldney, Mary Wall, etc. taking up the places of shelter, to Drink Ale, and Smoak Tobacco in. In short, the defence the Women made, had so effect, that first the Justices were divided, and some argued for them, Old Sir John Knight in particular. (For which he was Abused on the Bench, and had Reflection cast on him, by Brand the Sheriff's Companion.) And next, the Jury would not believe the Informers; so brought in their Verdict No Riot, but guilty of an Unlawful Assembly. This Verdict so displeased the Sheriff, that he Menaced the Jury with having them up to London: Saying, If he could not have Justice here, he would have it there. The Jury's Verdict is grateful to the most Discreet, Substantial Magistrates and the Sober Citizens; though the Informers Huff at it, taking all amiss, that doth not quadrate with their wicked designs.  
The Inhumanity and Baseness of John Helliar, Sheriff Knight, etc. Is much cried out against, in that they brought Nails and Hammer to Nail up the Morning Meetinghouse, and there kept the Women and Men together, well nigh six Hours, without any Conveniency of Ease or Refreshment to Nature. And this Hilliar was so sensible of, that he told them, next time they should Chamber-Potts. It's too large to insist on all their Sordid Abuses. So I refer to another time. Yesterday the Meeting again Disturbed: And on the occasion of an Ancient man speaking two or three words, their Names taken, and the Meeting made a Conventicle; which is what they greedily aim at.   

Bristol the 13th of the 3d. Month 1682.  
YEsterday, by that time about 30 Friends were met, in their Meeting-House-yard; the Sheriff, etc. came, who strictly examined Friends, as he useth to do, what they do there, commanding the King's Peace to be kept. A Serious Woman Friend told him, We do keep the King's Peace, and we came here to keep our Peace with the King of Kings. The Sheriff was pleased to send her and three Women more to Newgate: Whence after about six Hours they were let go home to appear to day; which they attended to do, but were not called for, (so that is over.) So small occasion the Sheriff can take to send Friends to Prison. Several Justices care not to be forward in this work.  
Thy Affectionate Loving Friend.