THE CRUELTY OF THE MAGISTRATES OF Evesham, in Worcester-Shire, OR, Some further particulars of their deal and proceed at the late Sessions, and othertimes, against those People, whom scornfully they call QUAKERS. With a Warning to the HEADS and RULERS and all people of this Nation.  
Written from Evesham the 15. day of the 8. Month, 1655.  
LONDON, Printed for Giles Calvert, and are to be sold at his shop at the Black-spread-Eagle, near the west end of Paul's. 1655.   

The Cruelty of the Magistrates of Evesham in Wercestershire.  

UPon the nineth day of September so called, we had a meeting about the tenth hour, at the common Goal in Evesham, there to wait upon the Lord, and after some time Humphrey Smith having been in prison about three weeks before, and being in the prison, he was moved to speak to the Lord in prayer, than the Gaoler, and some other Officers came into the Goal to Humphrey Smith, and violently haled him away as he was speaking to the Lord in prayer, and put him down into the dungeon; our friends keeping still together, after some time Tho. Woodrove spoke the word of the Lord to the people, and having done, the Constable came and inquired for him, but because they knew him not, he went away that time; but before they departed, another meeting was appointed the third hour in the afternoon, and then the people being come together at the time appointed, Humphrey Smith spoke to his friends out of the Dungeon the word of the Lord; and when the common Meeting at the Steeplehouse was ended, our friend Thomas Woodrove was speaking to the people, without the prison, and many of those that had been at the steeplehouse stood and heard him speak, who having done speaking, was sought after, and took away by a Constable without a Warrant, and brought him before the Mayor, and them called Justices, and Thomas Matthew Priest, and then he was committed to the common Goal for speaking the word of the Lord, and Shomas Matthew Priest, at his departure thanked the Mayor for his care and pains, and on the morrow in the morning, Robert Martin, called Justice, bid the Wardsmen, if t●e people would not be gone from the goal-hole, he bid them knock them down, and bid the men throw shuffles full of dirt upon them in the dungeon; and they set eight men with weapons, four on each side the prison, to keep away all friends for coming to, or speaking with them they had imprisoned; Humphrey being free to give books to some people of the Country there in town, and the keeper did by violence take three books from them, and tore them all; so he sent for a parcel of books he had in town about sixty in number, which was for the glory of God, & for the beating down of all sin, written by George Fox, james Naylor, Richard Farnsworth and james Parnel, these books they were taken from the messenger by the wardsmen, and brought before the justices, who afterwards burned them upon the Market-Cross before the people, being the Fair-day; see their malice to them, having broke no Law, Esa. 59.54. Esa. 8.13,14,15. & Mic. 3.10,11. Mic. 7.2,3,4. Dan. 6.4. to the 16. Prov. 29 17. This was done, notwithstanding that some of our friends did present the Mayor the first day in the morning with a paper that had above forty hands a● it, declaring that they expected justice to be put in execution according to the late Proclamation, which they denied to post up, though some friends posted it up, and it was pulled down again; they only bear the names of Justices, and do it not, but their actions are secretly contrary to law, justice, and righteousness, and they are those that call the proud happy, yea by their means those that do wickedly are even set up, and delivered, and they lay snares for the righteous, and make a prey of those that fear the Lord, whose faces are now turned towards Zion, like their forefathers, Luke 23.25: Act. 22.24,25. Act. 23.12,13. & Act. 24.5,6,9. Act. 25.2,3,4, etc. 1 Kings 18.17,18. Upon the 25 day of the 7 month called September, George Kemp, Mayor of Evesham, sent for us prisoners, and more of friends in the town, and said, I sent for you concerning a paper that you have put your hands to, being A representation of the Government of Evesham.  
Quest. Do you own this paper?  
Answ. Yea, we do own it, and shall prove it to be all truth. He then began to question some particular things in it to ensnare us, but after we urged very much, he granted the reading of it, than he examined us that were there, but all that were witness to the paper, were not then in the town; we bid him let us be called all together, and we shall prove every thing therein; then said he, seeing it is of so high concernment, and that you have appealed to the Protector, you shall every one give security to answer it before the Protector.  
Ans. We have not appealed to the Protector, for any redress, but we have discharged our consciences in making manifest the corruption of them called Magistrates in this Town, both to the Protector and to the whole Nation.  
Quest Are you willing to answer it before him?  
Ans. If we be by you or the rest compelled, we refuse not to go, for we are more free to answer it before the Protector than here, for there we expect some Justice, but here is none. I shall engage you all to appear at the Sessions, and then you shall all give security to answer personally before Protector, or else lie in Prison. What is the reason you will not swear, William Dewsberry can swear, for in one of his books he saith, in the presence of the Lord I own Magistrates: Hum. Smith. So far as that I can say, for in the presence of the Lord I own Magistrates that are for the praise of them that do well, & the punishing of the evil doers: So he lets us that were Prisoners return to the Prison, and the rest departed home.  
Upon the 28. day of the Month, called September, Joshua Frensome and jobn Knight was sent for before them called Just●…es, Robert Martin, and Samuel Garner, and asked them if they owned the printed paper, they said we own it, and can prove it all to be true; them called justices said it was a Libel, they answered they would prove it was no Libel by those twenty that are subscribed in print to that paper, which they questioned them about, and also by forty more; The Deputy-Recorder said whether it be true or false it is a Libel, because it is in disparagement to the Magistrates; so them called justices sent them both to Prison: At that time there was in the place, one Thomas Milnard, the Priest's wife father, who was a persecutor in the Bishop's days, he is one of them called Magistrates, he accused our friends of selling their Bibles, he mentioned one of Hampton, who though he did sell a Bible hath two or three yet, and the Scriptures we own, yet I can sell thee a Bible, if thou wilt buy one, for I have three. Thomas Milnard answered, I will have none of thy Witchery stuff, he said more, that he was confident that the Mayor was bewitched he did not send all our friends to Prison that 25. day of the 9 Month joshua Frensome, john Knight.  
On the second of the eight month called October, james Wall having a trial at their Court, he came into the trial of the cau●e, and Robert Atkins commanded his hat to be taken off, james Wall said to him, Thou hast not yet made me any satisfaction for the last hat thou causest to be taken from me, neither is yet restored; Robert Atkins commanded the Gaoler to take him to prison, where he hath been without any Mittimus or any thing since laid to his charge.  
The second of the said month, at the Sessions holden at Evesham, Thomas Woodrove being first sent for, by himself, and brought before the Sessions, he requested that his fellow prisoners might be sent for, that they might answer to the crimes laid against them, if there were any.  
Quest. You are accused to be a disturber of the peace.  
Answ: Let that be proved, or read any Law that I have transgressed.  
judge. There may be a Law broken which cannot be read.  
Ans. Is it possible there should be Law broken that cannot be proved nor read?  
judg. But as for your part you might have had your liberty if you had not came in here in this contemptible way, with your Hat on, therefore you shall turn back again to the Prison, until you do come with your hat off; take him Gaoler. He was sent to the prison, and the rest brought up to the Bar.  
Robert Atkins said, Do you not know that you are prisoners? I marvel that you will offer to come before a Court with your hats on; Goaler take off their hats. It was done: thou mayst as well take off our Coats.  
james Wall. Thou hast not made me any satisfaction for the last hat thou did cause to be taken from me.  
Rob. Atkins said, Smith, You are the Ringleader of this Sect, and of this people; I know you have Scripture enough, and you can tell of Paul's Condition, and many such things, but you lead people contrary to the ways of God.  
Humph: Smith. Paul was accounted as a Sectarian and a Mover of Sedition, and a pestilent Fellow  
Rob. Atkins. Paul was called so, but was not so; but you are called so, and are so.  
Ans. That is not yet proved:  
Rob: Atkins. Where have you any Scripture for your keeping on your hats.  
Tho. Cartwright. The servants of the Lord had their Hats on when they were thrown into the Fiery Furnace, yet they were not thrown in for keeping their hats on, but because they would not bow and worship the King's Image.  
Humphrey Smith. There is neither precept, practice, example, nor command in the scripture, nor yet any Nationall Law for putting off the hat, and so long as I continued in swearing, lying, and in other wickedness, I was never questioned by any magistrate, but now the Lord hath called me from these Sins, I am made a prey of by you; then said they one to another, he hath aspersed all the magistrates in England: Quest. Did you live in such Sins since you came to this Town? Ans. Nay, Thomas Cartwright said, I have lived in drunkenness, swearing, lying, and profaneness, until now of late, and none of you ever questioned me, but now I have left it I am punished without a cause: if any one here have aught against me now to charge me withal, let him now speak before the people. Rob. atkins. Thou lookest with a good honest face, I thought thou had not been a quaker, therefore I thought to have shown the some favour, but I see by thy behaviour who thou art; Humphrey Smith said, Moses that was a qua●er, did look with a better face than he. Robert Atkins: Here is a sufficient ground, that you have come into the Court with your hats on, to fine you, and send you to Prison until you learn better manners, therefore I shall fine you every one and send you to Prison, where you shall lie from one Sessions till another, until you come with your hats off, if I may have my will; and though you have been kept very high, I shall take course that you shall be kept shorter, and looked closer unto, fine such in five pounds and the rest in three pounds a piece, Goaler take them away; the Gaoler hawling us away, Humphrey Smith said, let it first be made manifest who we have offended, or what we have transgressed, or what errors I hold, if any can be proved, that the peop●… may be convinced with us of any evil we may be accused of, but the Gaoler hawling us away Humphrey Smith spoke further to the people, and said, they have shamed all profession, and all national Government: Thus were we thrust away from the bar in a quarter of an hours time, and not at all called by name nor examined for what we were Prisoners, nor any Mittimus read or mentioned, nor any other crime laid against us, or charged upon us, neither was any Witness, nor any one by word or bill, that had any thing in the least against us, neither did any open his mouth to that purpose, or in any such way against us, neither did they themselves accuse us, though we often requested to show us any cause why we were imprisoned, but the Gaoler took four of us away, but Robert Smith, john Clemens and Sames Wall he left at the bar, where they than spoke for themselves; Robert Atkins hearing them, asked if they were quakers too, and called the Sergeants, or Words men to take them away, but they were let alone until the Gaoler came back again from the Prison, in all which time they were not examined, neither did any one accuse them of any thing. Rob. Smith said he had been in Prison 6. weeks for saying the Priest did lie; now there the Priest, George Hopkins is, and I am here to prove him a liar, and to affirm him to be a liar before all the Court, if he be not a liar let him speak, for I can prove him a liar in several things; the Priest being there gave no answer. John Clemens said I was sent for by the Deputy-Recorder (who sitteth there) from my father's shop and his work, and he sent me to Prison because I did not put off my hat, and for that have I been in prison 6. weeks, and he called to the Deputy-Recorder, and bid him speak or charge him with what he had against him, but he was silent, and spoke not, neither did any one charge him with any thing; so when the Gaoler came, he took them away to prison also.   

A true description of the imprisonment of William Pit, a soldier for the Commonwealth.  
I Came from my outward being in the City of Worcester, into the Burrow of Evesham, to visit some friends which were there in Prison for bearing witness to the truth, as it is in Jesus being the time of the General Sessions for the said Burrough and coming into the Hall on the third of the 8th. Month, and was walking with many of my friends in the lower end of the Hall, below the Bars and the people, until there came a man with a Halberd, and carried me before those which sat to do justice (but I found none) whereupon the Recorder told me, he did perceive I had a desire to be amongst my fellows, and I should, have my desire, I bid him do his pleasure, but I demanded him first to make it appear I had transgressed either the Law of God or man, but he could not, than he asked me what I came hither for from my dwelling place; my answer was, I came to see the Trial of my friends which are here in bonds for the testimony of jesus, and I am chargeable to no man; so with some other questions of small account, he bid take him Gaoler, so I bid him let me know what he sent me to Prison for, but he would not, but sent me to the Common-Goa!, without any Mittimus or knowledge of my person or name, or whence I came, neither will they let me know for what, although I have writ to the Mayor.  
The third of the Month, called October, joshua Frencom, and John knight, Prisoner's, were sent for unto the hall, and after Robert Atkins had commanded to take off their hats, which were accordingly, he then caused a Bill of indictment against them to be read, concerning some particulars in a former printed paper, & asked if they were guilty or not guilty; Joshua answered, we can bring witness to prove that to be true, which we are indicted for; Rob. Atkins: Wherefore are you indicted? Josh. For the truth. Rob. Atk. For the truth are you indicted? joshua said, All people take notice, for the Truth it is that we are indicted; and the people clapping their hands, gave a shout, and some of them said to Rob. Atkins, let shame cover thy face, must not men speak the truth? Rob. Atk. Take them away, for we shall not have peace so long as they are here; on the same day, before mentioned, Rich. Walker was called, and they read a bill of indictment against him, and they asked him whether he was guilty or no; and he said he denied the bill, but said he owned the paper, and he desired to have it read, and they did, and when it was read, he said, I appeal to all your consciences, whether it be not all true, and they sat all silent, and answered not a word. john Woodard, james Wall, joshua Frencom, Thomas Cartwright, and Will. Walker, were soldiers long in the service of the Commonwealth, and most of them at Worcester fight for outward liberty, and now are they fined, or imprisoned, or both, without any Law transgressed, and are deprived of outward liberty: Humphrey Smith was a friend to the Parliaments Army, from the first arsing of them, and afterwards ventured his natural life, and suffered much loss by the king's army, and now we have not the least benefit of the liberty nor law of the Nation. Upon the third of the 8th. Month, john Goodard was called before the bench, Rob. Atkins said, pluck off his hat, and after his hat was off, the Town-clerk did read something, & said in his paper that he had set his hand to a scandalous paper maliciously against the magistrates of the town, and afterwards asked him if he was guilty or not guilty, and he said he was not guilty of wronging any man's person, neither had he spite or malice against any man in England, and the Recorder said, it is easy for any man to say he is not malicious; and the said john Goodard said, thou mayst judge of me what thou wilt; and than Robert Atkins said, will you own the paper? And he answered that he would own the printed paper; and prove it to be true; and said, here are three men standing by, that have waited ever since yesterday morning, to witness against Robert Martin, called justice, for swearing: Robert Atkins said he did not sit there to have it proved; and said, if it were true it ought not to be spoke of if it were against a Magistrate; and john Woodward said, all people take notice if this be not partiality: (The Recorder commanded that Captain Pit ways hat to be taken off his head, which is a Magistrate of the Town, and makes him stand bare, and suffers a priest to sit by him with his hat on; and the Priest hearing this put off his hat, and the Recorder bid him put it on again, and yet he sends our friends to prison for coming before him with their hats on.) And then the Recorder said to the rest of the Bench fine him; and some of them said three pounds; and they asked the said john Woodward if he was contented, and he said, you may do what you will with me; and the Recorder said, fine him five pounds: & he said you may put in fifteen pounds, for I expect no favour from your hands; so they fined him five pounds. And john Woodard said, Take notice the Grand jury have brought in, that swearers and drunkards are not punished; and said, Hear people, We are not questioned for sweeting nor being drunk, or any manner of sin, or evil communication, but for speaking the truth: and one of the strangers said, I witness against Robert Martin for swearing, and they did not answer him a word:  
Upon the second day of the 8th. Month, called October, our Friend, Captain Pitway, so called, was called before the Bench; and Robert Atkins, the Recorder, said to him, I understand that you have been a Magistrate, and one of the chiefest of the Bench, and I do much admire that you show no more reverence to the Court then to come with your hat on, [mark reader,] and now a ringleader of this sect, I will take course with you; and he answered to this purpose, I see little justice done: and then Atkins said, you shall see justice done, and said, pluck off his hat, that is one piece of justice; then Atkins said, you are bound over to your Good Behaviour, and then it was read what was sworn against him, and that which was false in it he denied, and that which was true in it he owned; and than Robert Atkins bid him relate what he did own, and he said that he owned that the said Robert Martin, called justice, was a drunkard: and because he did pluck the prisoners out of their beds, and bred such a disturbance in the night, and bidding the people whoop, and whooping himself, that he said did cause him to say what he said, and said if they would but give him leave to bring in his witnesses, he would prove it to be true; and then he bade him bring in his witnesses on the morrow: then the recorder did tell him of a paper that he had put his hand to, which was scandalous against the Magistrates of the town, and he said he put his hand to a paper which was no scandal but truth, and he was there ready to prove it to be true, and then for that time he was put by, and the next morning about the ninth hour, he was then called again, and then they read an Indictment against him, for setting his hand to a paper, which they said was maliciously against the Magistrates, and asked him if he owned it; and he said, all malice and spite I deny, but for the printed paper he owned it to be true, and was there ready to prove it: and Robert Atkins said, we conceive it to be scandalous, and would not suffer him to call his Witnesses, and said, We must proceed to fine, and so fined him 20. l.  
The 14th. Day of October, being the first day of the Week, there was a meeting at Captain Edward Pitwaye's house, in the morning, and there were two of our friends coming to the meeting, and as they passed by the Goal they looked in at the the Goal hole, and spoke to the prisoners, and before they had stayed half a quarter of an hour, there came the Mayor and put them in prison, and said they should go into the prison right or wrong: and in the afternoon, Edward Young, the Mayor, came to our meeting before the Goal, where our friend, Humphrey Smith, spoke out of the Goal-hole, and the Mayor came and laid violent hands of many of our friends, and sent them away to prison, and several Country people he set in the Stocks, although we were all peaceable, and not a man did give him, or his Constables that was with him, a word that was uncivil, but desired that we might be peaceable in our meeting, but the Mayor was very outrageous, and one he did kick, and another he did lay hands on, and said, he had almost forgotten the civil Gentleman, and so sent him to prison, and did put our friend, Humphrey Smith, and the rest that were in the Main-Goal into the Dungeon, and said we should not see his face again, it may be, this twelve months, except he had order from above to take him out; and some Women he laid hands on and plucked them, and said if he had a prison for them they should go to Prison.   

TO all the Heads and Rulers of this Nation, and Great men, and Rich men, who would have the ha●… put off to you; and would have your persons respected, which is contrary to the Law of God, for he that respecteth persons committeth sin, and he is a transgressor of the Law of God; and you that say authority commands it, and would have your persons respected, you that do so commit sin, and would have others to commit sin, and so to transgress the Law of ●od, and to departed from the Faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, which is without respect of persons, which faith is held in a pure conscience, which all who respect persons acts contrary to that which doth convince them, and casts the Law of God behind their backs, and are reprobates concerning the Faith of our Lord Jesus: When Haman would have had Mordicai to have bowed to him, when he could not disobey the Law of God, Haman might say he disobeyed, and was not subject to authority, as you do now, when men stands patiently by you, which say authority commands it to put off the hat, who would have the creature worshipped more than the Creator, upon such the judgements of God comes: as you may read, Rom: 1●. And as the three Children could not bow to the Image which Nebuchadnezar had set up, they might say they disobeyed authority, and was not subject to authority, as you may do now, because men do not off their hats in your Sessions and Courts, and so they come to be fined, which there is no example for in all the Law of God, but it is a judge upon all that respect persons to which the soul must be subject. And all who follows the lust's acts contrary to the Light which doth convince, there that is let in which wars against the soul; he that makes Laws and acts in that nature, and with it, which follows the lusts, and sets up that which wa●s against the soul, which the soul cannot be subject to, but to the higher power, that which answers the Law of God, and the higher power is that which doth convince, which the soul must be subject to, and not to man's will, neither to that which is made in it, nor to that which doth command, for the cross is to it, and so all you which would have hats put off to you seeing there is not one example among all the heathenish Kings or rulers as you read in all the Scriptures: and all you who hath & doth profess the Scripture to be your rule, search it throughout, and see if you can find any example in it, that ever any that were rulers for God that commanded any to put off their hats to them; and if you cannot, you may see you are grown higher in iniquity, pride and ambition than them all: Nebuchadnezar lost his Kingdom; & Haman & Pharaoh destroyed, who oppressed the seed, of God. And beware all ye that scoff & scorn, & persecute the righteous seed of God, the power of God is the same now that it was then to throw you down, and that of God in all consciences shall answer it. And you who profess yourselves Christians and Christian Magistrates, and the Scriptures to be your rule, search it, and see if you can find any example among all the Saints of God, or any of the Christian Magistrates that did bear rule for God, command any to put of their hats to them: Did ever Moses, joshua, or jephtha, Solomon, or Hezekiah, who were judges and Kings in Israel, command any to put off their hats that came before them? Or did any of these imprison them? if they did not, or ever Pharaoh, Herod, Pilate, Darius, or Foelex, or any of the heathenish Kings or Governors command any to put off their hats that came before them, or fine them, or imprison them, if they did not; now seeing none of these commanded any to do it, what can you plead for it but your own wills? and beware how you make that your Law, as you will answer it, for you must all give an account to the just God of heaven and earth, who will tender to every man according to his works, without respect of persons. From the Lord I warn you, and to the Light in all consciences I speak, that with it you may see the same nature ruling in you that ruled in Haman, who would have had Mordecai to have bowed down to have satisfied his will, which he would not do though the King had commanded it, and he was justified by God in not doing of it; and Haman, who would have been honoured, brought to shame and confusion. Read East. 2.7 10. Therefore all ye Rulers, fear the living God, and give over persecuting the Saints, which cannot respect your persons for Conscience sake, for the Lord God of Heaven and Earth will be avenged of all his Adversaries, and upon all the oppressors of his own people, that would make them transgress the righteous Law of God, which respects no man's person, and you that do so are enemies to God, and so denies the Faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, which is without respect of persons, jam. 2. With the Light of Christ you are all seen, and with the Light you are to be condemned, you that act contrary to it, for this is the condemnation, the Light, saith Christ; as you may read, john 3.19,20,21. john 1.9.   

AND now all you that are called Magistrates, in Evesham, who are yet in the murderous nature, hating, persecuting, and reviling the innocent whom you cannot justly accuse, this have I written that you may look back and be ashamed of all your former filthy actions, which have been contrary to all that ever ruled for God, therefore now mind that of God in your Consciences, which will witness for me, and judge and condemn your unjust actings, which have been contrary to the righteous Law of God in your heart, and also to all the Laws in the nation; and thou, George Kemp, when thou didst examine us, these, or the like words I then spoke & now write to thee, that thou, or any other, to show, if they can, what Law I, or Thomas Cartwright, had transgressed, or who we had harmed, or what uncivil carriage, words, or actions, we had offered to any man; yet a Constable came and took us before them called Magistrates, who having notice that we that are called Quakers would not swear, nor put off our hats to worship the Beast in any man, but use plainness of speech to all, by which we are made a prey of, so are many ensnared when there is no other way found out to entangle them that cannot bow to your generation, that are found fighters against the Lord. And thou Robert Atkins Recorder, and the rest that joined and sat with thee at the Assizes in the persecuting of the Saints, even of those that have always had their outward habitations in the same town, and none of you, nor any other adversaries could then charge them with any thing of transgression or evil behaviour towards any, yet you fined many, and sent them to prison, and fined them in sums of money for coming before you with their hats on, and declaring against your filthy actions in a printed paper, wherein your former actions are truly declared, as fifty of us can witness, and that in your own consciences may witness the same.  
Now are you made manifest and seen in the Light, and declared to all the simple, to be such who are out of the counsel of God, acting in your own wills, to your own shame; are these your actions? the fruits of your Ministry you are upholding? do you thus requite the Lord for his Deliverance from the outward Sword? Are you now leading into Captivity, and set wholly to persecute and to delight yourselves in mischief? Now hear and consider, all ye rulers of the earth, that set yourselves in battle against the Lord; Thus in the day of his power wherein he is arising, yea the Lord of Hosts is risen to take vengeance against ●u his enemies, and to break you all like a Potter's Vessel; yea, the wrath of the Lord of Hosts is kindled, which burns all the day, and his jealousy is waxed hot against you, and his wrath you shall not escape; the day of the wrath of the Almighty is at hand, wherein he is raining, and will rain snares upon the wicked daily, and the wicked shall be taken in their own craftiness, and shall howl and lament for all your abomination, for the Lord is coming a swift witness against all proud, lofty and scornful persecutors, who live in covetous practices, whoredoms, and the like: Woe unto them that take counsel, but not of me, saith the Lord; Woe unto you that go down to Egypt for help; Woe unto you that decree unrighteous decrees; Woe unto you that lay snares for the innocent, the judgements of the living God are your portions for ever if you repent not speedily: Oh! repent, repent; return, return before it be too late, that you may not all utterly be destroyed for ever, for by you the just upright man is laughed to scorn, and judgement is turned away backwards, and justice standeth afar off, truth falleth in the Streets, and equity cannot enter, and he that departeth from evil maketh himself a prey; but the Lord loveth the righteous, and he knoweth the wicked afar off, for on them he will rain snares, fire and brimstone and horrible tempests, this shall be the portion of your cup Woe unto you that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for Light, and Light for darkness. woe unto you that are wise in your own eyes, and prudent in your own sight. woe unto you that are mighty to drink wine, and men of strength to pour down strong drink; which justify the wicked for rewards, and cast the innocent into holes, as the fire devoureth the stubble, and the flame consumeth the chaff, so your Root shall be rottenness, and your blossom fade as the dust, because you have cast the Law of the Lord behind your back, yea, the Lord will render to every one of you, in one day, according to the evil of your heart, and what measure you have measured to us, shall be measured to you again, and the Lord in his good time he will deliver us out of the hands of the wicked and unreasonable men, which make a man an offender for a word, and the time will come when you shall know that you have been fighters against God, and have been persecutors of the righteous seed of God, which are in scorn called Quakers: Therefore all people, both Judges and Rulers, high and low, while you have time prise it, and repent from all your dead works and serve the living God now in this the day of your visitation, for there is no darkness nor shadow of death where you workers of iniquity may hid yourselves from the presence of our God, who is a consuming fire, before whom all his enemies shall vanish like smoke, and howl, because of the torment that is coming upon all that are found in Babel, out of which the Lord hath called many of us up into the Marriage of the Lamb, where we rejoice over Babylon that is fallen, and all that are found in her, from whom we are delivered to offer up praises, and honour, and obedience unto the living God of power, who sitteth on the Throne, To him be given glory and honour for ever and ever, Rev. 19.1,2,3,4,5. and the 18.20:   

Now a word in love to all people, to warn you every one to mind your own condition, and cease from the busy mind, that goeth forth from the light of Christ in thee, to meddle with other men's matters, and so give way to the adulterated spirit in thee, that is adulterated from the Lord, and so the feet abides not in the house, but followeth after that which entereth forth after that which saith, Lo here, and lo there, and so mindeth not the Prisoner within thee, which groaneth for deliverance, and cries for vengeance upon the head of the wicked one in thee, which bears rule and leadeth thee from obedience of what is made manifest to thee by the Light of Christ, to go forth feeding upon the Tree of Knowledge, where thou wouldst be as God, knowing good and evil. But to that in thy conscience do I speak thou knowest enough already to be thy condemnation, for the Light of Christ is come into the worldly heart, which showeth thee sin, and evil, and wickedness is thy condemnation, because thou lovest thy own unfruitful works rather than the Light which showeth thee it; therefore saith the Lord, the people have chosen their own ways, and delighting themselves in acting that which was not good, and have gone a whoring after their own inventions, and will have none of me, but casts my Law behind their backs, and rejects my counsel, and abhor my correction, and receive not the fear of the Lord, although I have sent my servants the Prophets, rising up early, and sending them to cry in the streets, the chief places at Concourse, at the entering in of the Gates, and in the high places, saying unto all, O do not this abominable thing which I hate: and this voice doth also call in thee, saying, this is the way, walk in it, when thou art turning to the right hand or to the left; and yet the Lord hath long waited to be gracious, and to heal thy back-slidings, and love thee freely, but thou turnest to him thy back and not thy face: O ye rebellious children! How long will you delight yourselves in mischie? and how long will you walk in a way that is not good? How long will you hold the truth of God in unrighteousness? O people! will you nor be made clean? When shall it once be? How long will you follow after the false Teachers that are gone forth from Christ, the Light & the Truth, into the world? who have eyes full of Adultery, with the Spirit that is adulterated from the Lord: Hearts, have they, exercised with covetous practices, and such that are greedy after the error of Balaam, for rewards: These are they that cannot cease from sin, 2 Pet. 2.14, but have a form without the power, and from such turn away: and mind the light of Christ the true teacher, & the true Light that showeth sin & evil; when no man can accuse thee, yet the Light will then condemn thy unjust practices, and check thee in secret for swearing, lying cozening, and the like; this is the Grace of God which appeareth, unto all men, which teacheth to deny all Ungodliness, and worldly lusts, which all they that are Christ's have crucified with the affections; who are become dead unto sin and alive unto righteousness, and then how can these that are dead unto sin live any longer therein? for the wages of sin are death, and he that committeth sin is the servant of sin, and whilst we were with you committing sin, we were free from righteousness, but being now made free from Sin by the cleansing of his Blood, we became the Servants of righteousness: Therefore all you that are yet the servants of Corruption, mind your condition, his secvants you ar● to whom you obey, whether of sin unto death, or of righteousness unto life, and not one of you can serve two Masters, therefore be no longer deceived, God will not be mocked any longer by you: if you continue sowing to the flesh thou shalt as certainly of the flesh reap Corruption; therefore all ye that are readers and not observers, and hearers of the Word and not doers, you are all deceived, jam. 1. 2●. the swearer, liar, drunkard, hater, proud, covetous a●d scorner are deceived already, none of all these ever comes to enter into the Kingdom of God, until he be brought out of their deceit, wherewith the Serpent hath deceived all the Children of wrath, for no unclean thing ever enters into the Kingdom of God, which is righteousness, and joy, and Peace in the Holy Ghost. And all you that are condemning those that persecuted the Prophets, and imprisoned them; and you that are condemning those for persecuting imprisoning, and crucifying Christ and his Apostles, and are saying, if you had been in the days of your forefathers, you would not have persecuted the Saints as they did, and yet in the mean time you yourselves are in the same nature as they were, and the Works of your fathers that s●…w the Prophets you will do, for this day are you persecuting the righteous Seed, that ever suffered under your Generation prisons, Stocks, Dungeons, yea death itself: Therefore hear and consider; Did ever the servants of jesus Christ cause any to be imprisoned? Or did they ever strike, stone, hate or revile any? Did they ever make use of any Nationall law, made by the will of man, to ensnare any? Or ever haul any before earthly Magistrates? Therefore consider, you that are laying snares for the innocent, and are hawling them to prison that cannot bow to Hamans' nature nor yours, that Heathenish custom of putting off the Hat, and that cannot swear, but abide in the Doctrine of Christ, Mat. 5.33,34. And them that do not break the laws of God or man, are daily cast into prison, and great sums of Money imposed upon them by the Will of proud man; Are not the great men of the earth taking counsel against the Lord, and against his Anointed? Is not Pilate and Herod agreed to crucify Christ in his Members? Are not the chief Priests and Rulers joining together now as they did? Act. 24. Are not many moved with envy? Are not the rulers now seeking for something against those they can find nothing worthy of death or of bonds? like that of Act. 25.25,26. Is there not like tumult raised by the swearing rude Multitude, as was Act. 17.5? Are not many saying as they did of Christ, one said he is a good man, the other said nay, but he deceiveth the people, john 7.12. Are not the great ones of the earth sometimes saying now, as a certain Orator said of Paul (that was not made a Minister by the will of man) that he was a Pestilent fellow, a mover of Sedition, and a Ringleader of the Sect of Nazarites? Act. 24.5. Are there not many Hamans' now, that would have the true Mordecays to bow to them, and because they will not, all their glory in the world availeth them nothing, and therefore are ever saying of those who are Jews indeed, as it is said of the Jews East. 3. that they are a certain up-start-people scattered abroad, which regards not the King's laws, neither are they for the King's profit? And would not many haman's in England give large Money if they might prevail to have the righteous cut off for ever out of the Nation? as it was East. 3. Nay, are not you more blind and worse persecutors than they were, either in the days of the prophets or Apostles, who then spoke the word of the Lord as they were moved from the mouth of the Lord, 2 Pet. 1.21. and they had not a Scripture to prove it by, yet you blame them that cast them into Prison? Now we speak plain Scripture, and write plain Scripture, (which you say is your Rule) and we speak nothing, neither do we act or uphold any thing but what is declared by plain Scripture, yet are imprisoned therefore: Are you not worse than your forefathers. Now Daniel was put in the Den, because, say they, he hath broke the King's command in praying, Dan. 6. But I was put in the Dungeon and there kept ten days only for praying and making supplications to the living God, and in it I did not break any Nationall Law, therefore are ye not worse than your fathers? Again, they might have charged Paul with preaching contrary to the Scriptures, for he saith if they were circumcised Christ should profit them nothing, Gal. 5.2. and yet Circumcision was a command of God to last in Israel for ever. Gen. 17.13,14. and Christ himself was circumcised, yet the outward circumcision Paul preached against, therefore Paul was persecuted; but we now having so far a Declaration written Luk. 11. from those holy men of God, who spoke forth the Scripture from the same Spirit, Christ the Light of the world, that was before the world was, in which Enoch walked with God, Noah preached and obeyed, Arbaham believed before the Scripture was, in the which, Moses the man of God saw and writ the creation that was many hundred years before his natural birth; in the same the Prophets stood and prophesied of Christ to be the Light of the Gentiles, and of them that sit in darkness, Isa. 4●. 6. & 9.1. who came to fulfil that which was spoken of him by the Prophets, from the same light and life which dwelled in him, Col. 1.19 in the which the Apostles preached, in which we also preach repentance to the world, as Christ the Light of the world did, Mat. 4,17. Mark 1. Luk. 3 4. And we say from the same spirit unto the righteous; it shall go well with them, Isa. 3.10,11: Mal: 3: 18: which is according to the Scripture, and so we speak the truth of God, which yourselves holds forth in words, but you live in untighteousness: Rom: 4: 18:  
Therefore all people leave off your wickedness, and turn to the living God, who so loved the world, that he gave his only Son. Rom. 5. the light of the world which world is set in man's heart, Eccles. 3: 11. of which Christ is the inlightner, the which whoso followeth, shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life, john 8: 12: Now why will you love the unfruitful works of darkness? why will you go on in your wickedness? Do you not know, that the wicked shall do wickedly, and none of the wicked shall escape, and that the unrighteous cannot inherit the Kingdom of God, 1 Cor 6: 9: and that the Lord will in no wise acquit the wicked, Exod: 34: 1: but will wound the head of his enemies, and the hairy scalp of every one that goeth on in iniquity, Psa. 69.21. Now in the light of Christ thou mayst read thy portion with the wicked, which shall be turned into hell, as they that forget God, and cast his righteous Law behind their backs, and trample the blood of the innocent under their feet, and turn the grace of God into wantonness, foolish jesting, corrupt communication, vain jangling, idle words, the foolish heart being full of laughter, it is the sport of a fool to do mischief, the God of the world having blinded the eye, the Prince of the power of the air beareth rule in all the children of disobedience; Therefore all ye slow of heart to believe all that the Prophets and Apostles have said, you foolish people without understanding, that have eyes but see not, and ears that hear not, fear ye not me, saith the Lord? will you not tremble at my presence? jer. 5.21,22. which is terrible unto all the workers of iniquity, who are now committing iniquity with greediness, drinking it down as the Ox drinketh water, heaping up wrath against the day of wrath, and righteous judgements of God, which are now revealing from heaven upon all manner of unrighteousness of men, Rom. 1. wherein in this day of the revelation of jesus Christ, all that do wickedly shall be as stubble before him that sits as a Refiners fire, Mat. 3.2,3. and is coming a swift witness against his Adversaries: therefore all people consider your ways, see what you are a doing, for none can escape the wrath at hand, whither can you go? whither can you fly? where can you hid yourselves from the presence of the Lord? who is come to call for an account for every idle word, all unrighteousness is sin, that which he will not suffer to go unpunished; therefore whilst you are called to day Oh! harden not your hearts any longer; let not your words be ●…out against the Lord any more; let the wicked forsake his ways, and own the light of jesus Christ, while it now shineth, lest the Lord cause darkness, and thy feet stumble for ever at the dark mountains, Ier: 13.16 and so thou come ●o be for ever shut ou● into utter darkness, where there is no recovery; therefore give ear a little, hear and thy soul shall live: Despise not the day of thy visitation; hear, for wisdom cries, and understanding puts forth her voice, yea, she speaketh excellent things, Prov. 8 Oh ye simple, turn you in hither, and ye fools be ye of an understanding heart, why will ye die, Oh ye house of Israel! seeing I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth: turn ye again, and ye shall live; go on, and ye shall die the death eternally: Therefore if thou hast any love to thy own soul, that is more worth than the whole world, mind thy condition, flatter thyself no longer between God and Mammon, thou canst not serve two Masters, while thou servest thy own will, which is above the Cross, thou art contrary to the father's will, which is, that all men should be saved, and come to the knowledge of the truth as it is in jesus, who is the Saviour of the soul, and the testimony of jesus is th● spirit of prophecy, Rev. 19.10. which showeth things to come, john 16 13. whereby the secrets of the Lord are revealed to us that fear him, Amos 3.7. Psa. 25.14 and the mind of Christ comes to be known● (1 Cor. 2.16.) unto the spiritual man that judgeth all things, bu● he himself is judged of no man, 1. Cor. 2.15. for Christ the son o● righteousness is raised up in him, Mal. 4.2. where the son bears rule, unto whom all judgement is committed, joh. 5.22. by whom now the Saints do judge the world, 1 Cor. 6.2,3. that keepeth in wickedness, therefore I witness against all the world, that the works thereof are evil, Io 1: 1 fer in the world the dogs and the evil workers are, who are all disc. overed in the light of Christ.   
From them that are prisoners for the truth; that are by the dark world called Quakers, whose names in the flesh are, Humprey Smith, and Thomas Woodrove.  
FJNJS.