New-England A Degenerate PLANT.  
Who having forgot their former Sufferings, and lost their ancient tenderness, are now become famous among the Nations in bringing forth the fruits of cruelty, wherein they have far outstripped their Persecutors the Bishops, as by these their ensuing LAWS you may plainly see.  
Published for the information of all sober People who desire to know how the state of New-England now stands, and upon what foundation the New-England Churches are built, and by whose strength they are upholden now they are degenerated and have forsaken the LORD.  
The Truth of which we are Witnesses, (who by their cruel hands have suffered) 

john Rous Strangers.  
john Copeland, Strangers.  
Samuel Shattook Inhabitants.  
Nicholas Phelps Inhabitants.  
jostah Southwick Inhabitants.    
Whereunto is annexed a Copy of a Letter which came from one who hath been a Magistrate among them, to a friend of his in London, wherein he gives an account of some of the cruel suffering of the people of God in those parts under the Rulers of New-England, and their unrighteous Laws.  
LONDON, Printed in the Year 1659.   

New-England a Degenerate Plant, as is manifest by their following Laws.  

At a General Court held at Boston, the 14. of October, 1656.  
Whereas there is a cursed Sect of Heretics lately risen up in the World, which are commonly called Quakers, who take upon them to be immediately sent of God, and infallibly assisted by the spirit to speak and write blasphemous opinions, despising Government, and the order of God in Church and Commonwealth, speaking evil of Dignities, reproaching and reviling Magistrates and Ministers, seeking to turn the people from the faith, and gain proselytes to their pernicious ways. This Court taking into serious consideration the premises, and to prevent the like mischief as by their means is wrought in our native Land, doth hereby order, and by the Authority of this Court be it ordered and enacted, That what Master or Commander of any Ship, Bark, Pink or Catch, that shall henceforth bring into any Harbour, Creek or Cove within this Jurisdiction, any Quaker or Quakers, or other blasphemous Heretics, shall pay, or cause to be paid the Fine of one hundred pounds to the Treasurer of the Country, except it appear he want true knowledge or information of their being such, and in that case he hath liberty to clear himself by his oath, when sufficient proof to the contrary is wanting, and for default of good payment, or good security for it, shall be cast into prison, and there to continue till the said sum be satisfied to the Treasurer as aforesaid, and the Commander of any Catch, Ship, or Vessel that shall bring them, being legally convicted, shall give in sufficient security to the Governor, or any one or more of the Magistrates, who have power to determine the same, to carry them back to the place whence he brought them, and on his refusal so to do, the Governor, or one or more of the Magistrates are hereby impowered to issue out his or their Warrants to commit such Master or Commander to prison, there to continue till he give in sufficient security to the content of the Governor or any of the Magistrates, as aforesaid. And it is hereby further ordered and enacted, That what Quaker soever shall arrive in this Country from foreign parts, or shall come into this Jurisdiction from any parts adjacent, shall be forthwith committed to the house of Correction, and at their entrance to be severely whipped, and by the Master thereof to be kept constantly to work, and none suffered to converse or speak with them during the time of their imprisonment, (which shall be no longer than necessity require.) And it is ordered, If any person shall knowingly import into any harbour of this Jurisdiction any Quakers Books or Writings concerning their Devilish Opinions, shall pay for every such Book or Writing, (being legally proved against him or them) the sum of five pounds; And whosoever shall disperse or conceal any such Book or Writing, and it be found with him or her, or in his or her house, and shall not immediately deliver the same to the next Magistrate, shall forfeit and pay five pounds for the dispersing or concealing of every such Book or Writing. And it is hereby further enacted, That if any person within this Colony shall take upon them to defend the heretical Opinions of the said Quakers, or any of their books or Papers as aforesaid if legally proved, shall be fined for the first time forty shillings; if they shall persist in the same, and shall 〈…〉 the second time, 4. l. if notwithstanding 〈…〉 defend and maintain the said Quakers heretical Opinions, they shall be committed to the house of correction till there be convenient passage to send 〈◊〉 out of the L●●●, being sentenced by the Court of A●●●… 〈…〉 hereby ordered, That w●●… 〈…〉 soever shall revile the person of M●g●●rates or M●●●●…, as is usual with the Quakers, each person or persons shall be severely Whipped, or pay the sum of Five pounds. This is a true Copy of the Courts Order, as Attests  
Edward Rawson, Secretary.   

Made at the General Court held at Boston, the 14 of October, 1657.  
AS an Addition to the late Order, in reference to the Coming, or bringing in any of the cursed Sect of the Quakers into this Jurisdiction, It is Ordered, That whosoever shall from henceforth bring, or cause to be brought directly or indirectly, any known Quaker, or Quakers, or other Blasphemous Heretics into this Jurisdiction, every such persons shall forfeit the sum of One hundred pounds to the Country, and shall by Warrant from any Magistrate be committed to Prison, there to remain till the penalty be satisfied and paid: And if any Person, or Persons within this Jurisdiction, shall henceforth entertain and conceal any such Quaker or Quakers, or other blasphemous Heretics (knowing them so to be) every such person shall forfeit to the Country Forty shillings for every hours entertainment and concealment of any Quaker or Quakers, etc. as aforesaid, and shall be committed to Prison as aforesaid, till the forfeitures be fully satisfied and paid: And it is further Ordered, That if any Quaker or Quakers shall presume after they have once suffered what the Law requireth, to come into this Jurisdiction, every such Male-quaker shall for the first Offence have one of his Ears cut off, and be kept at work in the House of Correction till he can be sent away at his own Charge; And for the second Offence, shall have his other Ear cut off, and kept at the House of Correction as aforesaid. And every Woman-quaker that hath suffered the Law here, that shall presume to come into this Jurisdiction, shall be severely whipped, and kept at the House of Correction at Work till she be sent away at her own Charge; and so also for her comidg again, she shall be alike used as aforesaid: And for every Quaker, he or she, that shall a Third time herein again Offend, they shall have their Tongues bored through with a hot Iron, and kept at the House of Correction close to Work, till they be sent away at their own Charge. And it is further Ordered, That all and every Quaker, arising from amongst ourselves, shall be dealt with, and suffer the like punishments as the Law provides against foreign Quakers. This is a true Copy of the Courts Order, as Attests  
Edward Rawson, Secret.   

At a General Court held at Boston, the 20. of May, 1658.  
THat Quakers, and such accursed Heretics, arising a-among ourselves, may be dealt withal, according to their deserts, and that their pestilent Errors and Practices may be speedily prevented, It is hereby Ordered as an Addition to the former laws against Quakers, That every such person or persons professing any of their pernicious Ways, by speaking, writing, or by meeting on the Lordsday, or at any other time, to strengthen themselves, or seduce others to their Diabolical Doctrines, shall after due means of Conviction, incur the penalty ensuing; that is, Every person so meeting, shall pay to the Country for every time ten shillings; and every one Speaking in such a Meeting shall pay Five pound a piece; and in case any such person hath been punished by Scourging or Whipping the first time according to the former Laws, shall be still kept at Work in the House of Correction, till they put in Security with two sufficient men, that they shall not any more vent their hateful Errors, nor use their sinful Practices, or else shall departed this Jurisdiction at their own Charges: And if any of them Return again, than each such person shall incur the penalty of the Laws formerly made, for Strangers. By the Court.  
Edw. Rawson, Sec.   

An Act made at a General Court held at Boston, the 20. of October, 1658.  
WHereas there is a pernicious Sect (commonly called Quakers) lately risen up, who by Word and Writing have published and maintained many dangerous and horrid Tenants, and do take upon them to change and alter the received laudable Customs of our Nation, in giving civil Respect to Equals, and Reverence to Superiors; whose actions tend to undermine the Authority of civil Government, and also to destroy the Order of the Churches, by denying all established Forms of Worship, and by withdrawing from the orderly Church-assemblies, allowed and approved by all Orthodox Professors of the Truth; and instead thereof, and in opposition thereunto, frequenting private Meetings of their own, insinuating themselves into the minds of the Simple, or such as are least affected to the Order and Government of Church and Commonwealth; whereby divers of our Inhabitants have been infected and seduced, notwithstanding all former Laws made upon the experience of their arrogant and bold obtrusions to deseminate their Principles among us, prohibiting their coming into this Jurisdiction, they have not been deterred from their impecuous attempts, to undermine our Peace, and hasten our Ruin.  
For prevention thereof, This Court doth Order and Enact, That every person or persons of the accursed Sect of the Quakers, which is not an Inhabitant of, but is found within this Jurisdiction, shall be apprehended without Warrant, where no Magistrate is at hand, by any Constable, Commissioner, or Select man, and conveyed from Constable to Constable, until they come before the next Magistrate, who shall commit the said person or persons to close Prison, there to remain (without bail) until the next Court of Assistance, where they shall have a legal Trial by a special Jury: And being convicted to be of the Sect of the Quakers, shall be sentenced to be Banished upon pain of Death. And that every Inhabitant of this Jurisdiction being convicted to be of the aforesaid Sect, either by taking up, publishing, or defending the horrid Opinions of the Quakers, or the stirring up Mutiny, Sedition, or Rebellion against the Government, or by taking up their absurd and destructive Practices, viz. Denying civil Respect to Equals and Reverence to Superiors, and withdrawing from our Church Assemblies, and instead thereof, frequent private Meetings of their own in opposition to Church-Order; or by adhering to, or approving of any known Quaker, and the Tenants and Practices of the Quakers, that are opposite to the Orthodox received Opinions and Practices of the godly, and endeavouring to disaffect others to civil Government and Church-Orders, or condemning the Practice and Proceed of this Court against the Quakers, manifesting thereby, their complying with those whose Design is to overthrow the Order Established in Church and State, every such person upon examination and legal conviction before the said Court of Assistance, in manner as abovesaid, shall be committed to close Prison for one Month, and then unless they choose volantarily to departed this Jurisdiction, shall give Bond for their good Behaviour, and appear at the next Court of Assistants, where continuing obstinate, and refusing to Retract, and Reform the said Opinions and Practices, shall be sentenced to Banishment upon pain of Death; And in case of the aforesaid voluntary Departure, not to Remain, nor again to Return into this Jurisdiction, without the allowance of the Council first had and published, on penalty of being Banished upon pain of Death: And any one Magistrate upon Information given him, shall cause them to be apprehended, and if upon Examination of the Case he shall find just ground of such complaints, he shall commit such person or persons to Prison, according to his best Discretion, until he come to Trial, as is above expressed.   

At a General Court held at Boston, the 13th. of May 1659.  
WHereas the General Court, Octob. last, for the reasons mentioned in the Order then made for the preventing of those evils which the cursed Quakers in their principles and practices are apt to procure in those places where they come, did order, That all such persons (not being Inhabitants of this Jurisdiction, that are of the cursed Sect of the Quakers) who have an any time suffered what the Laws of this Jurisdiction from time to time have provided against such persons again arriving in any place of this Jurisdiction, should be seized on, and committed to close prison, there to continue till the next Court of Assistants, when he, or they shall be sentenced to banishment on pain of death.  
And whereas William Breud (a known Quaker that hath formerly suffered the Laws) hath notwithstanding the abovementioned Laws, come into this Jurisdiction, being sent to prison, and openly before the Court acknowledged himself to be one of those the World in scorn called Quakers: this court doth therefore order, that the said William Brend be committed to prison, there to remain till the 16th. of this instant month, and then discharged the prison, and shall departed this Jurisdiction on pain of death; and that if after the 18th. day of this instant May, he shall be found within any part of this Jurisdiction, he shall be apprehended and committed to prison, to be proceeded with according to Law:  
This is a true copy of the Courts Order, as attested Edward Rawson Secretary.  
To the Keeper of the prison in Boston, etc. you are required to execute this Order accordingly,  
Edw. Rawson.   

At a General Court held at Boston, the 11. of May, 1659.  
IT is Ordered, That Laurence Southwick, and Cassandra his Wife, Samuel Shattook, Nicholas Phelps, Joshua Buffum, and Josiah Southick, are hereby Sentenced, according to the Order of the General Court in October last, to Banishment, to departed out of this Jurisdiction by the eighth day of June next, on pain of Death; and if any of them after the said eighth day of June next, shall be found within this Jurisdiction, they shall be apprehended by any Constable or other Officer of this Jurisdiction, and be committed to close prison, there to lie till the next court of assistants, where they shall be tried, and being found guilty of the breach of this Law, shall be put to death.  
This is a true Copy taken out of the Courts Records, as attests  
Edw. Rawson Secretary.  
The true cause of the banishment of those six Inhabitants of Salem in New-England, was because they went not to their Meeting, and met together by themselves at each others houses; the cause being so small, they were ashamed its like to tell the crime, or what it was for, in this their sentence, seeing also they had imprisoned, & whipped, and taken away great sums of money from them for the same thing before.   

The Law for paying 5. s. a week for such as go not to their Meeting.  
IT is ordered & decreed by this Court, & Authority thereof, That wheresoever the Ministry of the Word is established, according to the Order of the Gospel, throughout this jurisdiction, every person shall duly resort and attend thereunto respectively, upon the Lords Days, and upon such public Fast-Days and days of Thanksgiving as are to be generally kept by the appointment of Authority; And if any person within this Jurisdiction shall without just and necessary cause withdraw himself from hearing the public Ministry of the Word, after due means of conviction used, he shall forfeit for his absence from any such public meeting, five shillings; all such offences to be heard and determined by any one magistrate or more, from time to time.  
This Law was made in the year 1646. and of late have been executed upon many Inhabitants, to the taking away land and houses,  and other goods from many that could not in conscience join with them in their Worship, because their hands are defiled with blood.  
There is certain information sent, That the last General Court held in the third Month, called May that they have made, a Law, and proclaimed it in all their Government, That all such children, and servants, and others, that for conscience sake cannot come to their meeting to Worship, and have not Estates in their hands to answer this foregoing Law of 5. s, per Week, must be sold for slaves to Barbados or Virgenia, or other remote parts, to pay their Fines.   

A Copy of a Law made at New-Plymouth in New-England, in the first Month, 1658.  
Whereas there hath been several Persons come into this Government, commonly called Quakers, whose Doctrines and Practices manifestly tend to the subverting of the fundamentals of Christian Religion, Church-Order, and the civil Peace of this Government, as appears by the Testimonies given in several Depositions, and otherways; It is Enacted by this Court, and the Authority thereof, That no Quakers, nor persons commonly so called, be entertained by any person or persons within this Government, under the penalty of Five pounds for every such default, or be whipped; and in case any one shall entertain any of those persons, ignorantly, if he shall testify on his Oath that he knew them not to be such, he shall be free of the aforesaid penalty, Provided, he upon his first discovering them to be such, do discover them to the Constable, or his Deputy.  
It is also enacted by the Court, and the Authority thereof, That if any ●anter or Quaker, or any person commonly so called, shall come into any Township within this Government, and by any person or persons, be known or suspected to be such a one, the person so knowing or suspecting him, shall forthwith acquaint the Constable or his Deputy, on pain of Presentment, and so liable to censure in Court, who forthwith shall diligently endeavour to apprehend them, and command them to departed out of the Township, and this Government; and in case any such person delay or Refuse to departed, than the said Constable or Deputy shall apprehend them, or him, and bring him, or them before the Magistrate in their Township if there be any, & where there is none, to the Select men appointed by the Court for that purpose, who shall cause him or them to be Whipped by the Constable or his Deputy, or pay Five pounds, and then conveyed out of the Township, and the same course is to be taken with every of them as often as any of them transgress this Order, in case of extremity for Harbour or Food, the Constable or his Deputy shall Reserve them for their Money; Provided, They suffer not any person or persons to Resort unto them whilst they are under their custody.  
And forasmuch as the Meetings of such persons, whether strangers or others, proveth to the destructing of the peace of this present Government, it is therefore enacted by this Court, and the Authority thereof, That henceforth no such Meeting be assembled or kept by any person, many place within this Government, under the penalty of 40. s. a time for every Speaker, and 10. s. a time for every Hearer, and 40. s. a time for the owner of the place that permits them so to meet together; And if they meet together at their silent (so called) then every person so meeting together, shall pay 10. s. a time, and the owner of the place 40. s. a time.  
Forasmuch as it was ordered at June-Court last, That all such as were housekeepers, or at their own dispose, that were not Freemen, and have not taken the Oath of Fidelity to this Government, should take the said Oath by the time then pre●xed, or to be fined to the Colonies use the sum of 5. l. And whereas divers persons notwithstanding all patience and long-forbearance, refuse to take the said Oath, and yet make their residence amongst us, It is therefore enacted by the Court, That every such person or persons shall every General Court be summoned to make their appearance thereat during the time of their abode in this Government; and if any such person or persons shall refuse to take the said Oath, shall be fined the sum of 5. l. to the Colonies use.  
Whereas the multitude of Freemen is but small, and the Inhabitants of the Townships many more, who have equal votes with the Freemen in the choice of Deputies, who being the body of the Freemen, Representative together with the Magistrates, have equal votes for the enacting of Laws, who by weakness, prejudice, or otherways it hath or may come to pass, that very unfit or unworthy persons may be chosen, that cannot answer the Courts Trust in such place.  
It is therefore ordered, That at such Courts as Magistrates and Deputies are to act in, in making Laws, and being assembled, the Court in the first place take notice of their Members, and if they find any unfit for such a trust, that they, and the reason thereof be returned to the town from whence they were sent, that they may make choice of more and able persons to send in their stead, as the time will permit.  
Whereas it hath been an ancient and an wholesome Order, bearing Date, etc. That no person coming from other parts be allowed an Inhabitant in this Jurisdiction, but by the appointment of the Governor, or two of the Magistrates at least, and that many persons contrary to this order of Court, crept into some Townships, which are, and may be a great disturbance to our more peaceable proceed; Be it enacted, that if any such person or persons shall be found, that hath not, doth not, or will not apply and approve themselves so, as to procure the approbation of the Governor, and two of the Assistants, that such be enquired after; and if any such persons shall be found, that either they depart the Government, or else that the Court take some such course therein, as shall be thought meet.  
It is enacted by the Court, That henceforth no public Meeting shall be set up, but such as the Court shall approve of.   

We had Information, that at a General Court at New-Haven, they made a Law to this effect.  
THat every Quaker that came into their Jurisdiction the first time, should be severely Whipped, and be kept at Work in the House of Correction; and the second time be branded in the one Hand, and be kept at Work as aforesaid; and the third time be branded in the other Hand, and kept at Work; and the fourth time be bored through the tongue with a hot Iron. This is the substance of their Law as we were informed, though not their Law word for word, because we have not a Copy of it.  
All these Laws have been cruelly and rigorously executed both on strangers and inhabitants, to the imprisoning, whipping many several times over, Ear-cuttings, Brandings, and Banishments, Confiscation of Goods, and at last banishment on pain of death from their Habitations and Families, which at present is the state of some, and many more its like may be ere this time: Seven were banished on pain of death, and by late information five were in prison at Boston to receive the like Sentence, besides what may be more.    

A true Copy of a Letter which was sent from one who was a Magistrate in New-England, to a Friend of his in LONDON.  
Honoured SIR,  
MY Respects presented to you and Mrs. Brown, hoping and desiring your present and eternal welfare, etc. As for the state and condition of things amongst us, it is sad, and like so to continue; the Antichristian persecuting spirit is very active, and that in the powers of this World; he that will not whip and slash, banisih and persecute men that differ in matters of Religion, must not sit on the Bench, nor sustain any office in Commonwealth; Last election Mr. Hatherly and myself left off the Bench, and myself discharged of my Captainship, because I had entertained some of the Quakers at my House (thereby that I might the better be acquainted with their principles;) I thought better so to do, then with the blind World to censure, condemn, rail, and revile them when they never saw their persons, nor knew any of their principles: But the Quakers and myself cannot close in divers things, and so I signified to the Court I was no Quaker, but must bear my testimony against sundry things that they held, as I had occasion and opportunity; but withal I told them, That as I was no Quaker, so I would be no Persecutor: This spirit did work those two years that I was of the Magistracy, during which time I was on sundry occasions forced to declare my descent in sundry actings of that nature, which although done with all moderation of expression, together with due respect unto the rest, yet it wrought great disaffection and prejudice in them against me, so that if I should say some of themselves set others on work to frame a Petition against me, that so they might have a seeming ground from others (though first moved and acted by themselves) to lay me what they could under reproach) I should do no wrong, the Petition was with nineteen hands, it will be too long to make rehearsal of; it wrought such a disturbance in our Town, and in our Military company, that when the Act of Court was read in the Head of the Company, had not I been present, and made a speech to them, I fear there had been such actings as would have been of a sad consequence. The court was again followed with another Petition of 54. hands, that I might be restored to them, or some satisfactory Reasons wherefore I might not: The court return the Petitioners an answer with much plausibleness of speech, carrying with it great show of respect to them, readily acknowledging with the Petitioners, my parts and gifts, and how useful I had been in my Place, professing they had nothing at all against me, but only in that thing of giving entertainment to the Quakers, when as I broke no Law in giving them a night's lodging or two, and some victuals; for our Law then was, If any entertain a quaker, and keep him after he is warned by a Magistrate to departed, the party so entertaining shall pay 20. s. a week for entertaining them: Since has been made a Law, If any entertain a quaker, if but a quarter of an hour, he is to forfeit 5. l. Another, That if any see a quaker, he is bound if he lives six miles or more from the Constable, yet he must presently go and give notice to the Constable, or else is subject to the censure of Court, (which may be, Hang him.) Another; That if the Constable know or hear of any quaker in his Precincts, he is presently to apprehend him, and if he will not presently departed the Town, the Constable is to whip them, and so send them away; and divers have been whipped with us in our Patent; and truly to tell you plainly that the whipping of them with such cruelty as some have been whipped, and their patience under it, hath sometime, been the occasion of gaining more adherence to them, then if they had suffered them openly to have preached a Sermon: Also another Law., That if there be a Quakers meeting any where in this Colony the party in whose house, or on whose ground, is to pay 40. s. the Preaching quaker 40. s. every hearer 10. s. Yea, and if they have Meetings, though nothing be spoken when they so meet, which they say, So it falls out sometimes. Our last Law, That now they are to be apprehended and carried before a Magistrate, and by him committed to be kept close prisoner until he will promise to departed, and never come again, and will also pay his fees, which I perceive they will do neither the one nor other; and they must be kept only with the countries' allowance, which is but small, (namely, course bread and water) no friend may bring them any thing, none may be permitted to speak to them; nay, if they have money of their own, they may not make use of that to relieve themselves. In the Masatusets (namely Boston Colony) after they have whipped them, cut their ears, have now at last gone the furthest step they can, they banish them upon pain of death if ever they come there again; We expect that we must do the like, we must dance after their Pipe; Now Plymouth-Saddle is upon the Bay-Horse, (to wit, Boston) we shall follow them on the career, for it is well if in some there be not a desire to be their apes and imitators in all their proceed in things of this nature; all these carnal and antichristian ways being not of God's appointment, effect nothing as to the obstructing or hindering them in their way or course, it is only the Word and Spirit of the Lord that is able to convince gainsayers; they are the mighty Weapons of a christians Warfare, by which great and mighty things are done and accomplished: They have many Meetings, and many adherents, almost the whole town of Saudwitch is adhering towards them; and give me leave a little to acquaint you with their sufferings, which is grievous unto, and sads the hearts of most of the precious Saints of God, it lies down with them, and rises up with them, and they cannot put it out of their minds, to see and hear of poor Families deprived of their comforts, and they brought into penury and want, (you may say, by what means? and to what end?) as far as I am able to judge of the end, it is to force them from their homes and lawful habitations, and to drive them out of our coasts; Masathusets have banished six of their own Inhabitants to be gone on pain of death, and I wish that blood be not shed; but our poor people are pillaged, and plundesed of their goods, and happily when they have no more to satisfy this unsatiable desire, at last may be forced to fly, and glad they have their lives for a prey: As for the means by which they are so impoverished, these in the first place were scupulous of an Oath, why then, we must put in force an old Law, that all must take the Oath of fidelity, this being tendered, they will not take it, and then we must add more force to the Law, and that is, if any shall refuse or neglect to take it by such a time, shall pay 5 l. or depart the Colony.  
When the time is come they are the same as they were, then goes out the Marshal, and fetches away their Cows, and other Cattle. Well, another Court comes, they are required to take the Oath again, they cannot, then 5 l. more, on this account 35 head of Cattle, as I am credibly informed, has been by the authority of our Court taken from them the latter part of this Summer; and these people say, if they have more right to them then themselves, let them take them, some that had a Cow only, some two Cows, some three Cows, and many small Children in their Families, to whom in Summer time, a Cow or two was the greatest outward comfort they had for their Subsistence. A poor Weaver that has seven small children, or eight, I know not which, he himself lame in his body, had but two cows, and both taken from him, the Marshal asked him what he would do, he must have his Cows, the man said, that God that gave him them, he doubted not, but would still provide for him To fill up the measure yet more full, though to the further emptying of Sandwich men of their outward comforts, the last Court of assistants, the first Tuesday of this instant the Court was pleased to determine fines on Sandwich men for meetings, sometimes on first days of the week, sometimes on other days, as they say, they meet ordinarily twice in the week besides the Lord's day, 150 l. whereof William Nuland is 24 l. for he and his wife, at 10 s. a meeting, William Allen 46. l. some affirm it 49 l. the poor Weaver before spoken of 20 l. Brother Cook told me, one of the Brethren at Bastable certifled him that he was in the Weavers house when (cruel Barlow) Sandwich Marshal came to domand the sum, and he said that he was fully informed of all the poor man had, and thought if all laid together it was not worth 10 l. what will be the eud of such courses and practices, the Lord only knows, I hearty and earnesily pray, that these and such like courses neither raise up amongst us, nor bring in upon us, either the sword or any devouring calamity, as a just avenger of the Lords quarrel for Acts of injustice and oppression, and that we may every one find out the plague of his own heart, and put away the evil of his own do, & meet the Lord by entreaties of peace, before it be too late, and there be no remedy.  
Our Civil Powers are so exercised in things appertaining to the Kingdom of Christ in matters of Religion and Conscience, that we can have no time to effect any thing, that tends to the promotion of the Civil Weal of the prosperity of the place, but now we must have a State Religion, such as the powers of the world will allow (and no other) a State-Minister, and a State way of maintenance, and we must worship and serve the Lord Jesus, as the world shall appoint us, we must all go to the public place of meeting in the Parish where he dwells, or be presented, I am informed of three or fourscore last Court presented, for not coming to public meetings, and let me tell you how they brought this about, you may remember a Law once made, called Thomas Hin●leys Law, that if any neglected the worship of God in the place where he lives, and set up a worship contrary to God, and the allowance of this Government, to the public profanation of God's holy day, and Ordinance shall pay 10 s. this Law would not reach, what then was aimed at because he must do so and so, that is, all things there expressed, or else break not the Law in March last a court of Deputies was called, and some Acts touching Quakers were made; and then they contrived to make this Law to be serviceable to them, and that was by putting out the word (and) and put in the word (or) which is a disjunctive, and makes every branch to become a Law, so now if any do neglect, or will not come to the public Meetings, 10. s. for every defect, certainly, we either have less wit, or more money than the Massathusets, for, for 5 s. a day a man may stay away till it come to 12. or 13 l. if he had it but to pay them: and these men altering this Law now in March, yet left it dated June the 6th 1651. and so it stands as the Act of a General court, they to be the Authors of it seven years before it was in being, and so you yourself have your part and share in it, if the Recorder lie not, but what may be the reason that they should not by another Law made and dated that court, as well effect what was intended, as by altering a word, (and so the whole sense) of the Law, and leave this their Act by the date of it charged on another courts account; surely the chief instruments in the business, being privy to the Act of Parliament for liberty should too openly have acted repugnant to a Law of England, but if they can do the thing, and leave it on a court as making it six years before the Act of Parliament, there can be no danger in this, and that they were privy to the Act of Parliament for liberty to be then in being, is evident that the Deputies might be free to act it, they told us that now the Protector stood not engaged to the articles for liberty; for the Parliament had now taken the power into to their own hands, and had given the Protector a new Oath, only in general to maintain the Protestant Religion, and so produced the oath in a Paper in writing, whereas the Act of Parliament, and the Oath are both in one book in Print, so that they that were privy to the one, could not be ignorant of the other, but still all is well, if we can but keep the people ignorant of their liberties and Privileges, than we have liberty to act in our own wills what we please, we are wrapped up in a Labyrinth of confused Laws, that the free men's power is quite gone, and it was said last June Court by one, that they knew nothing the freemen had there to do; Sandwich men may not go to the Bay, lest they be taken up for Quakers, William N●land was there about his occasions some ten days since, and they put him in prison 24 hours, and sent for divers to witness against him, but they had not proof enough to make him a Quaker, which if he had he should have been whipped, nay they may not go about their own occasions in other Towns in our Colony but warrants lie in ambush to apprehend them, and bring them before a Magistrate to give an account of their business. Some of the Quakers from Road Island came to bring them goods to trade with them, and that for far reasonabler terms, than the professing, oppressing Merchants of the Country, but that will not be suffered, that unless the Lord step in to their help and assistance in some way beyond man's conceiving, their case is sad and to be pitied, and truly, it moves bowels of compassion from all sorts, except those in place, who carry with a high hand towards them, through mercy we have as yet amongst us worthy Mr. Dunster, whom the Lord has made boldly to bear testimony against the Spirit of persecution: Our Bench now is Thomas Prince, Governor, Mr. Collier, Captain Willet, Captain Winslow, Mr. Alden, Lieutenant Southworth, William Bradford, Thomas Hinkly. Mr. Collier last June would not sit on the Bench if I sat there, and now will not sit the next year, unless he may have 30 l. sit by him: our Court and Deputies last June made Captain Winslow a Major, surely we are all mercenary Soldiers, that must have a Major imposed on us; Doubtless the next Court they may choose us a Governor, and Assistants also, a free man shall need to do nothing, but bear such burdens as shall be laid upon him; Mr. Alaen has deceived the expectation of many, and indeed lost the affections of such as I judge were his cordial Christian friends, who is very active in such ways, as I pray God may not be charged on him, to be oppressions of a high nature.  
Written in December 1658.  
This Letter was published, not by the direction or knowledge of the Author, who sent it over to his friend for private information, but seeing that upon the perusal it is found to be of public concernment, which coming into the hands of some, it was thought meet to be published to the view of all.  Even the sea Monsters draw out the breasts, they give suck to their young ones. The Daughter of my people is become cruel like the Ostriches in the wilderness, Lament. 4.3. 
THE END.