The Fruits of UNRIGHTEOUSNESS AND INJUSTICE. Brought forth by John Bulkley, and Thomas Bowrman, and the rest of the Rulers in Hampshire, against the innocent people of God called QUAKERS. Who in words and Writings have often declared their unjust ●●ff ●ings; As also at two Sessions, and two General Affizes holden at Winchester, requiring Justice and Equiry, and their Right and Liberty in the Nation; of the which being still most unjustly deprived, it is now publicly declared, that they and others seeing their deeds of darkness brought to light, may be warned, and learn to do Justice, and relieve the OPPRESSED. Also the sounding voice of the dread of God's mighty power to all the Judges and Rulers of the Earth, who rise up against the L A M B, and to all the Host of the powers of Darkness who fight against God. By the Servants of Christ who suffers for his Truth, in the common Gaol and House of Correction at Winchester, called  

Humphrey Smith.  
Anthony Melledg.  
George Henderson.  
James Potter.  
Will: Baily.  
Daniel Baker.  
John Day.  
Winifred Newman.   
LONDON, Printed for Thomas Simmons, at the Bull and Mouth near Aldersgate, 1658.   

His in plain and sober words, would I have the Reader to understand, that what is hereafter written, is not published for the denial of any righteous government or Governors, nor in contempt of any that rules for God, neither yet in envy towards the person of any man, but that the wickedness, in them called Justices and Rulers, and the oppression which is daily brought forth, in them who are set to do justice, might appear; and more especially some of them in Hampshire, who have oppressed the just and let the guilty go free, therefore it is both meet and right & faithfulness towards God, and plainness and love towards the souls of them, who have combined together against the innocent, to declare openly against that evil principle in them, which moved in their dark minds in secret, whereby the works of darkness, hath been brought forth, into public view, which will now turn back upon that, which is head in them, for a perpetual shame.  
And it is but right and reasonable, that what oppressions by them is laid upon us who daily suffer, the inhuman crulties of unreasonable men, in our own Nation should be written and recorded, or at least wise part of it, in plain and simple words, as was also the sufferings both of the Prophets and Apostles, and likewise that was written, which the Martyrs suffered, by the Bishops, ungodly Rulers and Popish Tyrants, whose unrighteous Laws, Edicts and Decrees they could not obey, & that which is unrighteous is also now by us denied, though it be a Law, or a decree which is unjust, proceeding from the Priests, the unclean seed of the Bishops, and ungodly Rulers, the crooked seed of all the former persecuters, by which Priests and Rulers, we have suffered so much already in England, that it is very like before they have filled up their measure of blood thirsty Practices, and but part thereof gathered up, and recorded, that it will exceed (in the manner and cruelty of it) all the persecution that yet hath been at any time, in so few years, considering the number, harmlesness and innocency of them who suffer, with the manner thereof, and the long imprisonments.  
And secondly the small causes or accusations which the Persecutors have against them, as wearing their hats, or travelling in the high way, or reproving sin in the gate, market place, Idols Temple, or Steeplehouse, which was the practice of the Prophets, Christ and his Apostles, which is even a shame unto Rulers, to lay snares for, and seek to entrap a harmless people about such things.  
And thirdly considering there unreasonableness therein, by inflicting such great punishments, large sums of money, and long imprisonments, even without limit, until their wills are satisfied, only for such small things, as they call contempt, or transgression of their Law, which they made to guard the unclean Priests, and sometimes without any cause or any thing at all, to cover their cruelty, but only because we are called Quakers.  
And fourthly it may appear that these Persecutors, have already exceeded many, in that they Persecute us for practising that which they themselves profess, and practise not, and for living in that which they hold in unrighteousness, Romans 1: 18. Which is the Truth of God declared in Scripture, and in that they persecute us, for doing that which they say and do not, and for being faithful to that, of which even the Priests themselves have long talked, and wear wont to bind people by promise, that they should forsake the Devil and all his works, the pomps and vanities of this wicked World, and all the sinful lusts of the flesh (than must they needs forsake all sin) and to believe the Christian Faith (and ●respects no man's person) and to do Gods holy will (and that is man's sanctification) and commandments, (and that is written in the heart) and to walk in the same all the days of their life (than must they needs walk with God and be perfect) and be in this World as he is, 1 John 4. 17. the which things by the powerful operation of the immortal word in us, are brought in our measures to do, practice, and live in and therefore even because we do that, which the blind Priests did once teach (and now deny;) Are we now persecuted, and openly reviled, by those covetous Pharisaical Priests, who say and unsay, and say and do not, and preach up a thing one year, and preach it down another, and are of them that Christ cried w● against, Math. 23. and herein doth their blindness, and cruelty, and the Magistrates persecution, exceed many in former ages.  
And also in that we having the Scriptures (which they call their Rule) as a cloud of witnesses for us, but against them, and by the power of the Spirit which gave forth the Scriptures, are we ready both public and private, to prove our doctrine, faith, principles and practices, to be according to plain Scripture, but the Prophets and Apostles of Christ, had not a Scripture to prove many things which they did and said, And if this generation, do exceed those that persecuted them, in persecuting us, who have the Scriptures, what then, would this generation have done to the Prophets, if they had been in there days, who had not the Scriptures? all which being considered, and many things more, which might be mentioned, whereby it may appear, that these persecuting Priests and Rulers, have already exceeded all that went before them.  
Again, the Reader may consider, that the members of Christ, are not of the World, but are hated and persecuted by the World, and by our sufferings, and what is after written, it may appear, that we are not of the World, but hated, reviled and oppressed by the World, and by all Sects and Opinions, and all sorts of People in the World, out of which we are called, by him who was before the World, whose day Abraham saw, and by his Spirit are we brought to be of Abraham's seed, who wandered up & down, & had no certain dwelling place and were persecuted, afflicted, tormented, sometimes not expecting deliverance, Heb. 11. But following him, who laid down his life, and gave it a Ransom for many, and off red up his soul, and was made perfect, through sufferings, & he is a perfect example unto us who are called by his grace, and have believed in his name, to whom by the Spirit of the Father, we have been drawn, and his love in our hearts constraineth us to follow him, through great tribulations, though he had not where on to lay his head, Neither are we ashamed to confess him before men, who by the Priests, Rulers and People, was esteemed a Deceiver, a Transgressor of the Law, and a Blasphemer, and went about to kill him, because he said God was his Father, unto them who said God was their Father, and therefore crucified him for making himself the Son of God, and yet they said God was their Father, and Abraham was there Father, and yet did they not do the works of Abraham, but said, he had a devil who did the works of God the Father, which they themselves could not do, whom afterwards they did not one'y seek to kill, but Lazarus also; Lest all the world should follow him, who is the light of the World, in whom there is no sin, and in whose mouth there is found no guile, who was led as a Lamb dumb, and by the Priests, Rulers and Professors, was crucified, who said, I am the Light, by whom the world was made, who is the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world, and the Light of the Lamb which lighteth every man the cometh into the world, is by the Priests, and Rulers denied, and in them all lieth slain, for in Sodom and Egypt our Lord (who is Light) was (and is) slain, and are not the Priests the Sodomites, being found in pride, idleness and fullness of bread, who can deny it, being they deny and crucify him, who is the Light, and have many poor in their Parishes in want of bread? And are not the persecuting Rulers the Egyptians, oppressing the Israel of God, saving to them, ye are idle, ye are idle, and keep poor people in slavery to their corrupt wills, and is it not so? do not rich men oppress you and draw you before the judgement Seats, and is not the name of God, who is Light, blasphemed by them that do, so? read and see whether the rich-men who cause to be drawn before the judgement Seat, be not Blasphemers, James 2. 6, 7. And do not they openly blaspheme his name who is the Light? and are not the mouths of Priests, Rulers and People, filled with blasphemy against him that is the Light? Revel. 2. 9 and 13. 6. And be not they Blaspemers who deny him that makes an end of sin, and hale them out of their Synagogues, and before Rulers, and their judgement Seats, who profess his name? John 16. 2. For in spiritual Sodom and Egypt, he is slain, who is our Lord, even Christ the Light, whose grave is with the rich, and in the wicked is he buried, whose Light in the World reproves the World of sin, and gins to preach repentance to them that are in it, and teacheth the way of God perfectly, not respecting the persons of men, but showeth all things plainly unto them that keep his say, who said believe in the Light and learn of me, which Light is in the heart, the which the Priests and Rulers with one consent do strive against in themselves, and with much force and fury, seek to stop the shining forth of it in others, and so stop that which giveth the knowledge of God, 2 Cor. 6. 6. Resisting that which is holy in them, for that in them is holy, which in secret reproves for sin, and all that is not holy, the which they still resisting are found such, who crucify the Son of God a fresh, and put him to open shame, even denying the very end for which he came, which is to condemn sin in the flesh, and destroy the works of the Devil, which is sin, and to make an end of sin, and bring in that righteousness which is everlasting.  
And this is he, against whom the Rulers with the Hireling Priests, take council together, and against his anointed ones, Psal. 2, 2. 1 John 2. 20. And will not have him to reign over them, who saves his people from their sins, Math. 1. 21. But all these his enemies must be slain before his face, in this the day of his power, in which he will thresh all these Heathens in his anger that know not him, (who finisheth transgression) and obey not his Gospel, which is God's power, these be will vex in his sore displeasure.  
Therefore we unto them that decree unrighteous decrees, and write grievousness, which they have prescribed to turn aside the needy from judgement, and take away the right from the poor of the people, that Widows may be their prey; and that they may rob the fatherless; Consider the Rulers that made unrighteous decrees, wear robbers, menstealers. 1 Tim. 1. 10. And the Priests who consented together, were Murderers, Hosea 6. 9 and what will these do in the day of visitation, and in the desolation which shall come from far, to whom will they fly for help? and where will they leave their glory? Even thus shall it be, with them who are without God in the world, opposing his Son, and imprisoning his members, they shall bow down under the Prisoners, and fall under the slain, Esaiah 10. 1, 2, 3, 4.  
And this is he, even Christ the Light of the world, against whom the Rulers and Priests of Hampshire have risen up, many of them, with much rage and fury, especially John Bulkley, justice Hilsley, (so called●) Thomas Bowrman, and his Priest Thomkins, who said Christ swore, and Robert Dingly Priest, and Priest Bental, and Ellis, with others smote with the tongue, who hearing how the rest of their brethren, in other counties have with stood the way of God, and not entertained strangers, but evil entreated the Servants of the living God, therefore did that in them rejoice which is contrary unto God, and John Bulkley, and especially Hilsley did much glory and vaunt themselves, because of the cruel tyranny which their brethren (the seed of evil doers) inflicted upon my body (and others of the friends of Christ) in other counties by imprisonment, and cruel whipping of the which I am not ashamed, though they thereby were exalted in that fleshly glory which lusteth to envy, and in pride and arrogancy of spirit, from the wrathful nature which ruleth in them, and all persecuters, who neither believe in, nor receive him that is the Light, but rebel against him, and them who preach his Name; for John Bulkley hath declared often, public and private, and also at the general Affizes before all the people, that he would not that I should come to preach near unto him, and the she Goaler hath often said, that it was because I should not preach, that I was kept in Prison, and truly I preach none other Saviour, but Christ Jesus who saveth from sin, and my words, practices, and sufferings are according to Scripture, and so John Bulkley was so far from entertaining strangers, Hebr. 13. 2. that he sought by force, cruelty, imprisonning and whipping, to cause me and others to departed out of his coasts; (but I am near unto him, and my witness is within his walls) though not a swine or a dog of his, by me did Perish, whereby he is manifest to be far worse than the Gadereens who came and beseeched him to go out of their Coasts, who is the Light; and also to be of them who crucified him that preached repentance; and John Bulkley keepeth the swine alive, within his dwellings wallowing in uncleanes.  
And seeing that he, and them before named, and others after mentioned, have let the power of darkness so blind their minds, and harden their hearts, that they have not only lifted up their hands, against the innocent, but also continued their cruelty, and let their hearts increase in hardness, like Pharaoh, whereby the Servants of God are still retained in cruel bondage and long inprisonment, from one sessions to another, and from one affizes, to another, and also kept from that liberty in the Prison, and that Justice, which wand'ring persons, and thiefs and many transgressors of several sorts have had, who were committed to the same prison, and house of correction since we, and also released long before us, and that not withstanding many complaints, and even as it were cries for Justice and Equity have been laid before them, both in words and writings, several times, both in private and public, both at assize and sessions, whereby many of them in the county that should do justice, have been convinced with the Light in there consciences, (though they strive against it) that our sufferings have been unjust, and unreasonable, and yet to keep up their own glory, have not done justice in releasing them, whom they knew were oppressed, because we could not be subject to their wills.  
Wherefore let their glory which is to Perish be defaced, and let their Names be recorded among the rest of the enemies of the Lamb, and let the ages to come read them with the Light, to be under the power of darkness, they having been warned and left without excuse, that both their Actions and our sufferings might the more plainly appear, and that they and all others who are set to do justice, might take heed of rashness, in justice and envy, or smiting with the fist of wickedness, that they might come to know something meek, lowly, upright, just and sober in them, by it to be guided, in the fear of the Lord, to execute true justice, and to do unto all men as they would be done unto.  
Therefore are some few of their unjust actions, and some Copies of our papers after written, passing by much of what hath been already printed, (in a Book titled the true and everlasting Rule) and citing some few things among many, which may signify much of their injustice and cruelty, the which that they and others may turn from, and do that which is just and right, let them feel God's witness in them, and read that which followeth.  
South Haumpton. A Copy of a Mittimus. To the keepers of the common Goal for this County of Winton, or to his Deputy.  
I send you herewithal the bodies of Humphrey Smith, of Cowhorn in the County of Heriford; Anthony Melledge of Lime, in the County of Dorset, and William Bayly of for that they have been charged before me, with several misdemeanours by them committed at Poulnar in the Parish of Ringwood, and for that they refused to find sureties for their appearance at the next general Assizes, so be held for this County, and in the mean time to be of the good behaviour.  
These are therefore to require you to receive them, the said Humphrey Smith, Anthony Melledge, and William Bayly, into your custody, them safely keep in your common Goal, until they shall from thence be delivered by due course of Law, and hereof fail you not.  
Given under my hand and Seal the 27. day of February, 1657. John Bulkley.  
William Baylys answer to the Mittimus.  
HEre the ground of our commitment to prison was founded upon a lie, and so from that of the father of lies in John Bulkley, for at the present time, there was many people who can yet witness, that not one of them in the least, did accuse or charge me of any evil in the least, nor any one misdemeanour by me committed, neither was ● at Poulnar at the time intended, in the mittimus.  
W. B.  
A Copy of a Letter to John Bulkley.  
THis I say before thee, in the presence of the Lord God, who will plead the cause of the oppressed, and in due time will clear my innocency before thy eyes, and all the world, and that witness of God, the righteous Judge that is in thee will make thee know that I now suffer without cause, and whether it be according to equity and righteous Judgement, to commit a man to prison, or cause him to suffer, without transgressing any just and righteous Law, I leave to that of God in thy Conscience to judge, to take up a man who was going in a journey and in and about honest employment, in the sight of God and man; but if thou art not caused by that of God in thy Conscience, to free me of my outward bonds, and innocent sufferings, I am content to lay down my life, for his sake, who in due time will arise and clear my innocency, in this my faithful suffering.  
Called William Bayly.  
John Bulkleys' answer.  
WIlliam Bayly, I take no delight in your imprisonment, but shall be ready to take your friend Harris, or any fit persons security for your abode at home, without wandering abroad as a Teacher, to which you have no warrantable call, but only to follow your honest and Lawful occasions, which you have a freedom to do; touching your commitment, your refusal to give a ready and free account of your place of abode, accompanied with terms of high disrespect, and contempt to. Authority, brought you under commitment, when others of your Company carrying themselves civilly, were dismissed, if you belong to God, I trust in due time he will rescue you from the Spirit of error, you lie under, to which shall be contributed my prayers, and Christian endeavours.  
Yours John Bulkley.  
A Reply.  
THou sayest I have a freedom to follow my Lawful occasions, the which I was travelling about, and had continued in, if thou had not sent me to prison, and called it wandering abrad, and kept me in prison, from my Lawful occasions, which are abroad, unless I will give security for my abode at home, from whence I came but the day before to the Parish where I was born, out of which Parish, thou sentest me to prison, with others as a wanderer; and now thou wouldst have me give security to stay at home, and so to stay from the Parish in which I was born; and I did give thee an account, that I was born in that Parish, and so thou canst not cover thyself, with saying, that I refused to give thee an accu●●, and then thou mentions terms of high disrespect, brought me under commitment, & in the mittimus thou said it was for several misdemeanours done at Poulnar, though both are false, and then wherein art thou to be respected? and then to cover thy own respecting of persons, thou said others carrying themselves civilly were dismissed, which others were John Fry and William Fry who may be men of hundreds a year who with us, did not respect thy person though thou aidest respect theirs, and said to John Fry, thou would show him all the civil respect as may be, and then though thou say, I lie under a spirit of error, yet thou writ yours John Bulkley, which if true, than thou art his that is in error; but being not true, it turns back upon thee, and as for thy prayers, I say as he did whose Eyes Christ opened, to see beyond all the Hypocrites, who cast out him, who said we know that God heareth not sinners.  
W. B.  
It may be observed that William Bayly was born in the Parish that John Bulkley dwelleth, and sent him to prison from, whereby his folly and madness to all men may appear, and that he requires security of him to stay from that Parish where he was born, and several people at the same time acquainted him that he was born there; wherefore J. B. was ashamed to write the Parish name in the Mittimus, but left it with a blank, as may be seen.  
And in the Mittimus mentions his commiting to be for several misdemeanours, and in his next paper he saith it was for refusing to give a ready account of his place of abode, with terms of high disrespect, and at the assizes, he said it was because he would not tell his name; and the fourth time he said it was because he would not speak, that he sent him to prison, (which was all far from Truth) and if he did not speak, how is it that he gave terms of high disrespect? may not all people see the madness and folly of John Bulkley, who was somewhat offended, because it was told him (though not by William Bayly) that he was a silly man when he began this blind persecution, with unfound words and actions? the which if his words, writings, and unjust actions, hath not already made manifest, it may farther appear, when his inside is farther discovered.  
A Copy of a Letter to John Bulkley.  
WHat canst thou have more than our lives? having first deprived us of our right and liberty in the Nation, and taken men up from their Lawful business, which they were going upon, for the maintenance of them and their families, and send them to prison without the least ground of offence, according to Law, or any Law transgressed, and in prison keep them, until their bodies had suffered so much (in a little time) that thou thyself took notice, that their bodies were altered, and countenances changed, and then thou promised to speak to the judge for them, who did not seek it of thee, but gave up their bodies as a living sacrifice, & then in stead of speaking to the Judge, thou did vent forth what thou couldst against them, & that which was false to (at the assize) whereby now they who (are incent) are cast into Bridewell, and liable to whipping, blows, nakedness, lowsiness, and the want of all necessaries, and what ever may be inflicted upon our weak bodies, by most unreasonable and ungodly men, who before we were thus committed to their power, did inflict so much upon us that we were sometimes hardly able to bear it, as thy own man was something sensible of, and the Light of Christ in thy own conscience will let thee see the same, though we were not apt to complain, but leave it to the Lord, who will plead our cause, and clear our innocency in the day of his power.  
And this would I lay before thine eyes, that thou may be left without excuse, that William Bayly having had an ague long, and not forth of the town (he dwelled in) a long time, and now hardly able to go, though with us about his Lawful occations, & since he came to prison taken much cold, with what was before, & if he or either of us perish under thy cruelty will not his blood be required at thy hand, in the day when the woe will come upon all them, that offend the innocent Lambs of Jesus Christ? and what is it now, that thou seeks after, but only our lives, or imprisonment, until death? being thou hast got an order, to keep us in Bridewell until we promise to go (or stay at) home, thou knowing from us, that we cannot make that promise, and if thou wouldst make men's own houses their Prisons, by confining them thereunto, and not go forth upon their occasions, then should we lose that right and liberty which we long fought for.  
Therefore consider thy actions, and bring not innocent blood upon thy head, for by the zealous professors did Christ suffer, and sufferings is our portion, but woe to them by whom the offence cometh, for the Lord God of life and power, will plead our cause, and a witness we have for us, in thy own Conscience, which when thou art alone will plead our innocency and in secret reprove thee for having a hand against the members of Christ, of the which we are, who now suffer under thy will, though not by the transgression of any Law of England, in the which we are free born, and known by the Names of  
H.S. A.M. W.B.  
A Copy of John Bulkleys Letter to the (woman) Goaler.  
Mrs. Hobs.  
I Am informed that the three Quakers, are often punished by whipping, which though I suppose it done in obedience to the Judges last order, whereof I am ignorant, being then absent from the bench, or else that you would not do it, yet in regard of their weak and sickly condition, as I am informed, I desire you to forbear any farther corporal correction, and to afford them convenient accommodation, till the approaching sessions, when perhaps they may satisfy the bench, that they will return home▪ and forbear rambling abroad; this from your Friend  
John Bulkley. March the 26. 1658  
We having made it appear that we are no wanderers, thy own hand writing will stand a witness against thyself, and for the innocency of our suffering, under thy corrupt will, who having no evil to charge us with, dost keep our weak bodies under affliction; until we give security or promise to stay at home, and we do not read of any such blind persecutors as thee in all the Scriptures and here all people may see the fruits of thy wickedness, who hast caused the harmless Lambs of Christ to be so afflicted, being sick & in prison, and the hypocrite might well be afraid, lest we should be persecuted to death, and our innocent blood come upon his head, but though thy heart was somewhat judged at the time, when thou writ thy Letter to that unclean beastly Woman thou calls Mrs. Hobs● yet soon after thy heart was hardened again like Pharaoh.  
At the Sessions following, John Bulkley sent his Clerk to us, to see if we would promise to go home, and so to release us; if we could but only have spoken some such words to satisfy their wills, the which we durst not do; And therefore being retained in Prison, we writ to them concerning such a promise, as followeth.  
WE are not only freeborn of England, but we have also purchased our freedom in the Nation, and the continuation thereof with many years hard service, the loss of the lives of many hundreds, the spoiling of much goods, and the shedding of much blood in the late war, by which at last the Lord overturned them, who then sought to enslave our persons, and infringe our liberty in the Nation, in the which liberty now, we do expect to worship God in spirit, and in truth, according to the Scriptures, and to speak the word of the Lord as any one of his servants is moved by his spirit; & we also expect liberty to follow our employments, which are honest in the fight of God, and all men that fear his Name, and the Magistrate to be a praise unto such, and by the wholesome Laws of the Nation, us herein to defend; England being as an English man's house, or home; and wherein any of us are deprived of these things, we are deprived of our Rights, and infringed of our Liberties in the Nation; the which done, and continued, will be an evil example unto other Nations, amongst whom also sometimes I had, and have business, I having been much at Sea, for almost twenty years, and have some occasions at, and beyond Sea at this present; and I have also several lawful occasions in divers parts of the Land; about which I now travelling, was taken up, and sent to Prison, and my horse lay at charge by me, my goods which I had with me being sent up to London, whether I should also go, to make sale of it, or pass myself with it; and more over Sea, some such business at Sea and Land, being my present employment, for the maintenance of myself and family, all which I am now deprived of, and kept in Bridewell, because I cannot promise to go home, and so leave my employment and business undone, which is the way to ruinated men and their families.  
And as for William Baily, he was travelling but to South-hampton, upon several lawful occasions, but before he came there, was taken up with me, and brought to a Prison which is further off his home than he intended to go, and in it kept from his home many weeks longer than he did intent to stay, and there yet kept from his business, because he cannot make a promise to go home, and is not this the way to make us servants and slaves to men's wills?  
And as for Humphrey Smith, though his Wife came (to the Sessions) many miles from her habitation, and brought two men and a horse for her Husband to ride away with her, yet is he also kept in prison, because he cannot promise to go home; and which of you is it that can promise what to do on the morrow?  
Therefore out of all these promises, we stand in submission to the will of the Lord, Knowing that they who will live godly must sufler persecution: And seeing we have broke no Law, nor intent any evil against any man or woman, but abide in all watchfulness, to keep a conscience void of offence towards God and man, etc.  
Anthony Mellidge.  
This Paper being little regarded by them that are set to do Justice, for they still kept us in prison, because we durst not make a promise, which is more than they themselves can well do, if they stood in the fear of God, as may appear by him who was called Justice Cobb, who sat as Judge at the Sessions, whose heart was then and there, and afterwards hardened against us like Pharaoh, refusing to let us go; but suddenly in a moment, not long after, the Lord cut him off, and then what promise could he himself perform? Oh! that this might be a warning to all oppressing Rulers who are as grass.  
A Copy of another Paper.  
You who are set to do Justice, and to be Ministers of known Laws, and are to relieve the oppressed, and do that which is just in the sight of God, and all men that fear his name, and should be a terror to such as do evil, and a praise to such as do well, which is according to that of God in all consciences.  
THis we say unto you, that since we have been taken from our Callings and Employments, and imprisoned, and also caused to be kept in outward bonds by some of you; we have seen such as have been accused of divers manners of Theft, Witchcraft, and Murder, receive their sentence, or punishment according to your Law, or otherwise quit, released, and freed out of outward bonds.  
And we have seen a man whom we have known to be an idle person, and a drunkard, and so a transgressor of the Law, committed to the house of Correction for wand'ring or idleness, and received his punishment, and released. Likewise a Tinker committed to the house of Correction, received his punishment, and released. Also two men and a boy that came out of Ireland, who appeared to be wanderers, and suspective persons, who said they had no money, and were transgressors also of the Law by fight, if they were not Papists, and these also (as the other) were committed since we, and released in short time, though we still kept prisoners.  
And this also we say unto you; that if we have broken, or transgressed any Law, or if any evil is, or can be proved against us, than our bodies are ready, and we are willing to suffer the punishment according to the Law, for any such offence if charged upon us, that the Law being satisfied, we might have our liberty again (as others) to travel about our lawful occasions.  
And this would we know of you: First, by what Law of God or man, we are herein deprived of that right and liberty which Thiefs, Murderers, Witches, Wanderers, and other known transgressors have.  
Secondly, what Law you have to keep us in the house of Correction, until we engage or promise to go home. If you have any such law, let us know it, that we might submit thereunto, for we are ready to submit unto all your Laws, either actively by obedience thereunto, or passively by suffering under it, for a testimony against that which is unjust; but where there is no law there is no transgression.  
Thirdly, whether you do intent to keep our bodies in prison until death, unless we purchase our liberty by speaking words, of promising to go home, seeing you hear already that we cannot make such promises, knowing no law requiring us thereunto.  
An answer to these things would we willingly receive in writing from some of you, that both your ground and your end might from you be known, wherefore we are deprived of our right and liberty in the Nation, and kept in long imprisonment.  
At the Assizes, when the Judge was about to send us away, a Justice (so called) spoke to him that we might be put in the house of Correction: And the same day when George and Christopher Derby were examined by the Judge, the youngest of the Darbies could not then give a ready answer; then one called a Justice bid him say that he was going into the Country to see friends, and so joined with a highway Robber, and before all the Court would have taught him to make lies his refuge, who was afterwards (with his brother) condemned for high way robbing; but being reprieved since, with others, have much abused us, and so they neither suffer according to your Law, by which they were to die, neither yet do they suffer according to the righteous Law of God, which is to restore four fold. And moreover, they and such as them have liberty to act even almost all manner of desperate wickedness in the Prison night & day, by which our souls do suffer, and such as these, one called a Justice spoke as for, and we who fear the Lord, another called a Justice spoke as against, whereby we were put into, and kept in the house of Correction, and so cause us to suffer beyond the extent of any law: And is not this according to them, who said, and did release Barrabas, and crucify the Just?  
Wherefore ye men, mind the witness of God in all your consciences, and come into his fear, that you may love mercy, do justly, and walk humbly, that the just in every one of you may have dominion, and then the imprisoned members of Christ will not need to cry unto you for justice and equity. Your answer to them you may return, who certainly are the servants of God in outward bonds. (but the Darbies are since released.)  
Now let all people's mouths be stopped for ever, from saying we that are called Quakers are not subject to Authority, nor obedient to the Law; for if we for conscience sake cannot actually be obedient to an unjust Law, yet if passively, we willingly suffer the punishment, which that Law saith is to be inflicted upon him that doth not keep it, than therein is that Law also by us fulfilled, and hath no more power over us, who herein are obedient to Authority, and submit to every ordinance of man for the Lords sake: But our souls are subject to the higher power, which rules over all them who are in the persecuting powers of darkness, who though they be set to be Ministers of a Law, and acting without a Law, contrary to the Law, are found themselves transgressors of the Law, being out of the fear and Law of God, and out of the Law of the Nation; And so they are far out, and from that of which Authority consistech, and indeed out of all power both of God and man, in their own wills, ruling with cruelty over others in the power of Darkness.  
We having thus endeavoured by using all means, which is just in the sight of God, for our right and liberty, and having remained close Prisoners many weeks, without convenient place to work, though we were committed to the workhouse, we then endeavoured to get room and liberty to work with our hands, and therefore one of us did write unto him, by whom we were unjustly committed, as followeth.  
John Bulkley,  
THou alone art the cause of my imprisonment almost these nine weeks, in which I have almost suffered to the death of my body, being also sick when I was brought to prison among those, in whose company wert thou but one night, it would make thy flesh to tremble, and grieve thy soul (if thou feared God) to hear & see the filthy conversation of the wicked from day to day, the like wickedness I do believe was not found in Sodom, nor in the old World whom God destroyed with an utter overthrow. Oh! consider a little in the fear of the righteous God, who is the righteous Judge of all mankind, whether thou hast done unto me, as thou wouldst be done unto, who am a sufferer under thy hand of oppression (for righteousness sake) both in body and soul, being grieved and vexed with the abominations that I daily hear and see, and the injustice and unreasonableness of them by whom we suffer, where also we are deprived of all outward liberty without cause, which in the day of visitation the witness of God in thee for me shall witness, and this action of thine against the innocent in that day will be as a millstone about thy neck, and as a fiery flaming worm to eat thy flesh: Yea, and if thou proceed in the evil that is in thy hands, and repent not speedily, when thou wilt think peace to thyself, then will thy sudden destruction come as in a moment from the Lord God, who is a swift witness against all iniquity and unrighteousness of men without respect of persons.  
Therefore once more consider, and weigh thy actions in the just balance, even by the light of Christ in thy conscience, which will let thee see, by what measure thou meetest, it will be measured to thee again. And this is right, and according as God will judge and reward every man, to which that of God in thy conscience do witness, though for a time thou mayst strive to hid and veil it, for the honour of the world's sake, and the love of the praise of men; but what will this avail or profit thee in the day wherein thou wilt be justly weighed, and tried, then to be found by the Judge of all the Earth to be a persecutor of his people, and anointed ones, for whose sake he will rebuke Kings, and will fight our battles, and plead our cause in righteousness: Therefore do we stand still in quietness to see his salvation, and a freedom from the oppression of all wickedness, and wicked men, under whom for a time the just do suffer. I do not write to thee, as to complain to thee, but am contented in my sufferings (for my God hears the sighing of his prisoners) neither do I expect any thing from thee but equity and justice, of which thou bearest the name, but actest not in the lifethereof, so in the day of try all wilt be found among the hypocrites, bearing the name of that thou neither art, nor livest in. I must deal plainly with thee, though under thy power I should suffer death, this I can say, I have no envy to thy person, nor to any man upon the earth, God is my witness; neither dare I give flattering titles to any man, for in so doing I should be condemned by the witness of God in my conscience, whose peace is more gain to me, than all the riches and glory of this perishing World; but this I lay to thy charge justly (who art out of the state of Gods elect, to which that of God in thy conscience eternally shall witness (to wit) my sufferings unjustly by thy means, with the rest of my dear brethren, whose dear life in innocency is hid from the wise of the world) in that thou took us who were about honest and lawful occasions, and sent us to prison (who intent no harm to any) and afterwards sent me word in writing, that to follow my lawful occasisions I had a freedom, of which before thou had deprived me; but this will not hid thy deceit and envy against God's people. For I was in the Town in which I naturally was born, who there was neither found acting nor speaking any thing that was unlawful or dishonest (for such things I hate) but thou acted toward me that which is dishonest, and unlawful in sending me to prison, without the breach of any Law; and is this a small thing to send a man from his honest and lawful employment (by which he hath his subsistence) to a wicked and ungodly place, to be kept Prisoner in the common Gaol, where we are deprived both of our outward liberty and employment, for the maintenance of our bodies (which by thy means hath greatly suffered) neither do we know of so much liberty as to send for work to work at my Trade, where it may be had, and sent for to Prison, where I being kept, and like to remain, am willing to work with my hands, if room and liberty I might have. Therefore I would know from thee, if thou wilt send me an Order in Writing under thy hand, for me to have room and liberty here to work at my lawful calling, and also that some friend of mine may have liberty to come in and out with my work, and not be abused; and to this thing I do expect a speedy answer from thee; for it is unreasonable that I should be kept from my work, and my work from me, who have done no evil, who am of the world called  
From the House of Correction in the common Gaol of Winchester the 3d day of the 3d month, 1658. William Baily.  
William Baily also, having endeavoured, though with charge and trouble, to have Wool bought and made ready, and to have all things needful for him, and more of us to work at his Trade, and having hereby obtained an Order to the Gaoler, that he might have room and liberty, and things convenient suffered to be brought in unto him, yet did the Gaoler hinder him of having coals, without which he could not work, and thereby for a time, his work (being in all things ready) lay still and suffered loss; and so she that should keep idle persons committed to the House of Correction on work, doth neither do that, but also hinder him from his lawful labour, contrary to her place, and also contrary to two Justice's Orders, and hereby many may be satisfied also concerning things that false Accusers have cast upon us, called Quakers, that we are idle, or refuse to work at our lawful Callings, yet to be set on work as idle persons, and transgressors are, at their wills, or their work belonging to their house of Correction, we deny for ever.  
Here followeth a Relation of Daniel Bakers sufferings, lately a Captain in the Service for Liberty, but by a filthy Priest is now cast into the same Bridewell with me, whom he came from London to visit (and George Henderson with him) who hath written something of their unjust imprisonment, with his own hand next in order.  
IN the third month, 58. it came into my heart to travel from my Family to visit the suffering members of Christ in Winchester prison; but when according to the will of the Lord I came to the Prison door, both I and my friend G. H. were not only long kept out of the Prison, at the door, but also there much abused by John Grove a Turn-key, Christopher Derby, and others, and afterwards was I moved to pass into the Ice of Wight, contrary to my own will, and it came to pass on the 19th, of the same month, the fourth day of the week (which was set apart (as the hypocrites and profane said) for a day of public Humiliation) that for my love was I then evil entreated, beaten, and haled forth of the synagogue, and before a Ruler; but it's no new thing (especially in these days) for Priests, Rulers, and people (cursed children) who obey the powers of darkness, to smite the innocent and guiltless with the fist of wickedness, even upon the days of their Fasts, buffetting and haling such, whose pure consciences are exercised towards God, out of their Idols Temples, Synagogues, or Steeple-houses, before Magistrates, and cast them into prison, where they are thrust into holes and dungeons, even as it hath been fulfilled upon this body of mine, whose blood much hath been shed, with my bones shattered to pieces in the late Wars, for the just right and liberty of such who fear the Lord God, and of this Commonwealth; but behold O ye sober-minded one's! how the ravenous Beasts of the field, the enemies of the most High seek to devour, persecute, destroy, and make a prey upon the servants of the Lord, who is now arising as a Gyan● refreshed with wine, to confound, overturn, and dash in pieces as a potter's vessel, his enemies, as in the days of old.  
A Copy of a Writing sent to Robert Dingly, Priest of Brixton in the Isle of Wight.  
Robert Dingly,  
SEeing there there are many Deceivers in the world, and especially in this Nation of England, I being one who am a friend to the Truth (and sound Doctrine) and a lover of people's souls, even of thine (amongst the rest) who hast been a Teacher of the people many years.  
It lieth upon me for the Truth's sake, to desire thee (if thou be a Minister of Christ) to appoint a meeting either public or private, but if it be possible in public, that there it may be truly proved by plain Scripture, (without adding or diminishing, in the audience of all people) who are the deceivers, and who are the true Ministers of Christ.  
I desire thee to send me thy answer by way of Writing. Brixton, the nineteenth of the third month, 58. I am thy friend so far as thou obeyest and lovest the Truth, Daniel Baker.  
My friend George Henderson (who was with me) carried this Writing to the Priest's house, who after some time spoke with him (to wit) Priest Dingly, who in his envious rage and fury abused him, and our friends with reproachful, lying, malicious speeches, and refused to write an Answer; only here is what came from his own mouth, which spoke from the unclean spirit which is head in him, as doth appear, let the honest Reader judge with that of God in his conscience.  
Now before my friend gave this Priest the Letter, he asked his name, saying, is thy name Robert Dingly? (in such plain true words according to Scripture) he answered in scorn, saying, thy name? thy name? I thought it was such fools as thee art, with sundry other vain filthy speeches; I shall take a course with thee, said he, I shall send thee to prison (mark) G. H. answered, I matter not thy imprisonment; so the Priest took the Letter, and began to read (mark) and said, We fools desire thee to give us a meeting. Now these words was not written in the Paper (as the Reader may see above) but came from the unclean spirit (head in him) than my friend asked him why he did lie; the Priest's answer was, saying, I know the Devil is in you all. After which saying he fled away, and would give no further answer, only bid his man put him out of doors, and bolt the door after him.  
I being in the fear of the Lord (in love to the seed of the God of Abraham) with bowels of compassion was moved to appear at the Steeple house, G. H. went with me, where I came in amongst the multitude peaceably, and in the dread of the Lord, and so continued for the space of about half an hour, and then spoke a few words with tears, the Lord (whom I serve with my spirit) knoweth my innocency, that I was free from envy or malice to any one man's person upon the face of the whole earth; but I was hindered in the work of the Lord, the Priest immediately called out (being in his Pulpit in cain's nature) saying to the multitude, take him away, take him away, who with violence abused us both, beating with a great staff, kicking and throwing us down, and haled us forth of their Synagogue, or Steeple house, and brought us before the Magistrate (so called) who had so much regard with compulsion, to have his person respected, and honoured, by commanding our hats to be taken off our heads, which was laid in the dust before us (mark) a true figure where his honour shall be laid (as I then shown him) so that even that which would make him truly honourable, was and is lightly esteemed by him. I could wish that he and all the Magistrates in England, would lay it to heart to know, that before honour is humility, and that which is meek is low in the heart, and is the higher power every soul is to be subject to.  
The w●iting (above written) which was sent to Priest Dingly (before I appeared in the Steeplehouse) was read before Tho: ●owrman (called a Justice) his Priest Tomkins being with him, and wrested the Scripture to prove that Christ did swear, like a blind blasphemous sottish bruit; Many other persons were there present at the same time when we were examined, and most unjustly committed to Prison by the said Thomas Bowrman, who was so deaf and blind, he could not hear his sottish Priest speak blasphemy, neither see the transgressor, to lay the sword upon his head within and without; but being under the power of darkness, the sword was laid upon the innocent both within and without.  
Also he caused three men to swear against us, contrary to Christ's Doctrine (who said, swear not at all) and of his Disciples which followed him in the life; which taught the same Doctrine, saying, Above all things my brethren swear not, lest you fall into condemnation. And if Thomas Bowrman; and Priest Thomkins had been come to Christ the light of the wo●d, [as I questioned which them when I was falsely accused before him,] and so abide in his Doctrine, than he nor any such dare not go out of his Doctrine, neither cause others to transgress. I wish he may find a place of repentance with the rest of his brethren in the time, before it be too late, left such be then cut down as fruitless trees which cumbers the ground.  
Now I appeal to that of God in all consciences to judge, if so that R. Dingly had been a Minister of Christ, & had preached, practised, and lived in the life, walking in the doctrine of the light of the Son of God, whether or no it did not highly concern him, with the spirit of meekness and sound doctrine, in the audience of all people (as it was desired) to convince the gainsayers [in such perilous times as these] and whether a Minister of Christ the Light, would not have greatly rejoiced to have done the will of the Lord in the work of the Ministry for the truth's sake, that the honest simple-hearted might be edified, and so to know how to beware of woolvish hirelings, such as the holy Prophets, Christ, his Apostles, Ministers, and Saints did, and do witness against, as the Scripture of Truth beareth testimony, even against them who seeks their gain from their quarters, eating the fat, drinking the sweet, clothing with the wool, and feeding themselves (without fear) and not the flock who are kept ever learning, and not able to come to the knowledge of the truth, and so destroyed for lack of knowledge, by such greedy dogs which can never have enough, Isa. 56. The latter end, even such as Robert Dingly is, who as it doth appear manifestly to all that fear the Lord God of Abraham, how that if he had not been in the same footsteps of the false Prophets and Pharisees in cain's nature, and also ashamed of his Doctrine, practice, maintenance and conversation. I know he durst not have been so envious, raging with fury and madness, running to carnal weapons, to the Magistrate, before whom he, with the rest of his uncircumcised generation work their lying wonders, to captivate, prison, and persecute the just, guiltless, and innocent, even unto death, as many of this ravenous, cursed, rebellious seed of evil doers have done (and daily do) who rebel against the Light, and with greedinesle are hastening to fill up their measures of Iniquity in their unclean Tabernacles in these their days, woe be to them. A terrible and dreadful day of darkness is hastening over them.  
Also I say, let the sober minded consider and observe this with me, it's written, Revel. 2, saying, behold the Devil shall cast some of you (to wit the Saints) into prison to try you, so that its manifest, the Devil spoke by the mouth of his unclean Prophet R. D. who said to our friend, I shall take a course with thee, I shall send thee to Prison; so that from the unclean false Prophet, the voice went forth, the beast being ready also, to do or execute his Masters will, (who is the Prince of darkness,) and by his power to uphold the false Prophet, and said to us whose meat and drink it is to do the will of our heavenly Father (in our several measures) bearing testimony against the beast and false Prophet, and all deeds of darkness whatsoever.  
I say Thomas Bowrman said to us by the same Spirit (which is head in the Priest and himself, and threatened to cast into prison, which was also performed,) you think you have done your duty, I shall do mine, said he, and so the Devil by his Ministers, (to wit the false Prophet and the beast, who) cast us into prison, where we found the same unclean spirit, but could not bow to it, in submitting to extortion, oppression and cruelty, and therefore were cast into a stinking dungeon among thiefs felons and transgressors, dung, piss, fleas and lice in abundance, and without straw to lie upon; but the servant is not greater than his Lord, who had not where on to lay his head, though the foxes have holes.  
And let such who fear the Lord consider, if it be not the unclean spirit of the Devil which rules in these blind hired Priests, who take council together in the darkness, with the beast reviling, threatening, preaching against, and persecuting even unto bonds, and imprisonments, whipping, stocking and stoning, thrusting into holes and dungeons, the innocent servants of the Lord, whose pure consciences are exercised toward him, & in love to all people for the seeds sake for which they suffer all things, and love not their lives unto the death, who follow the Lamb, the Light of the World, in this mighty day of battle between the two seeds, and let all such who love Truth, and honestly desire to come to the knowledge thereof, in the inward parts, (for that which may be known of God is manifest within, the people may feel alter him and find him, who saves from sin, and reconciles to God in the Light;) Consider I say wether ever any of the holy men of God, Christ his Apostles, or Ministers did persecute, rule, threaten or murder the innocent in them, or cast any into prison, (as Robert Dingley and Thomas Bowrman hath done;) but on the contrary suffered under such an evil adulterous gainsaying and persecuting generation (the seed of the Serpent) even as the servants of the most high, his Children of Light have, and doth grievously suffer at this day, for bearing testimony for the Lord, and against the beast and false Prophet, wicked Rulers, Priests and People without respect of persons, who with their cruel tyranny and oppression smite the guiltless with the fist of wickedness to uphold the Devils dark Dominion, and Babylon's Merchants, the unclean Hireling Priests, Sermons and Prayer-sellers, who (raven like Wolves, &) have wearied the Lord of hosts with their words, speaking peace to the wicked who put into their mouths, and such who dare not for Conscience sake, they prepare war in their hearts, and cast them into prisons where sundry have suffered until death, 
* Read a Book titled a Record of sufferings for tithes.  a testimony against them for ever, who have rob, spoilt and made a Prey of men's goods, so that the Scripture is fulfilled upon their heads which said Hosea 6. 9 as troops of robbers wait for a man, so a Company of Priest's murder in the way by consent, see Micha 3. 11. Jerem. 23. Ezek. 34. Esa. 56. Math. 23. So that the holy men of God, Christ and his Apostles and Ministers did witness, and pronounced woes against such, who did profess and preach the good words, who were strangers, and persecuted the life (from whence the good word came forth freely) even as Robert Dingley, Thomas Bowrman and the rest of their generation do, and have done, who walk in the very foot steps of the Scribes and Pharisees, and of the false Prophets in Cain, Cores and balaam's way, Cursed Children, that cannot cease from sin, 2 Pet. 2. 14. Let such who desire to fear the Lord our God, be faithful to the eternal witness the Light of Christ in their Consciences, and with a single eye search the Scriptures, and see if it be not even so. Thus far have I cleared my Conscience, for the simples sake, as a testimony against the seed of evil doers, by whom I suffer, with the rest of my Brethren, by them known in that which is hid from the eyes which are full of Adultery, and cannot cease from sin, and to such my flesh is known by the name of  
Daniel Baker. Winchester Bridewell this 2. of the 6. Month 58.  
BY what was last written it may appear, who was in the Truth, he that was willing to have all things proved and brought to the Light, in public before the people, in soberness and plainess, or Priest Dingly, who unto a reasonable offer, did not give a reasonable, but an unreasonable answer, saying, I shall send thee to Prison, and then whether he was in the Truth that did cast into Prison, without any offence, or he that was imprisoned, And moreover the fruits of their fasts doth appear, who live in pride, envy, and covetousness) in haling two of the Servants of Christ the same day out of their Synagague and before a Magistrate, and cast them into prison, and so fulfil the Scripture, not knowing the Father nor the Son, John 16. 2. 3. and so it's plain, their days of fasting is for strife and debate, and to smite with the fist of wickedness, and such God heareth not, for they are according to their fathers of old, Esa. 58.  
Again those Priests in the days of the King, did keep days of fasting and praying for their King, but was not their murder in their hearts, and their sacrifice like cain's, for did not they stir up the people to rise, and if possible cut off all them that then sought for Truth and liberty, and do not the same Priests now, even upon their days of humiliation, stir up the people against us they then called Round heads, and now called Quakers? if possible to have us all cut off, from being a people among them, to bear witness against their tyranny and covetousness, and John Hodder Priest of Haychurch in Dorsetshire, (whose most bloody persecution against me and others have exceeded many;) he said if his Lord Protector would raise an Army to cut off all the Quakers, he would be the first man that would draw the sword; Oh! when did ever any man thirst more for blood? and are not the Priests always stirring up strife, and did not they still pray for the upholding of that which they saw was going down, and that which indeed the Lord was overturning, look back and see what an outcry there was amongst them, for their Fathers the Bishops, and for their King; and see if God did not overturn those that they prayed for, and set up those that they prayed against as Heretics, and Rebels to their King, and breakers of their Laws, and see whether they that prayed for the King, and for the King of Scots, do not now pray for their Protector, [who with others was instrumental for the overturning of their Bishops, and their King, the hand of God being then with him;] who now hath turned his hand for the Priests, whom God is against, and hath made a Law for them, far exceeding any that was made for them, by any King or Queen; and therefore now, they boast much of their Protector, and pray for him, as they did for their King, and he order them days to fast and pray with and for him, as their King did, and this is their Protector, who protecteth them, by whom hundreds of us do suffer, who fought with him against them, their Bishops and their Kings; but certainly the Lord God will turn both them and their prayers backward, therefore let the Protector take heed, how he set these treacherous, changeable, cursed Children, 2 Pet. 2. 14. To pray for him, or with him, in his fasting days, or otherwise, for the same spirit in them which did pray for their Kings, doth now pray for their Protector, and the Lord is as much and more against them now, than he was in the days of their Kings, and all that join with them, or upholds them, for he changeth not, though they do; therefore I, who was always and am a friend to the just liberty of the Nation, do desire all Magistrates to take heed of these Priests, lest they by their fallasies and flatteries, exalt them in that which God is against, until his wrath break forth against them all together: for reasonable men may almost see, that they are not like to stand long, there is such a stir and a cry among them, and so much praying and crying daily for the upholding of their trade, for such a noise there was, with long and loud Hypocritical Prayers, a little before, and at the very time that their Bishops and Kings were overturned for ever, and the Priests or Prophets of Baal, and the Prophets of the groves, they were many of them, and they also had days set apart to offer sacrifice, and they prayed long, and cried aloud, but none heard nor answered, and this was a little before they also were destroyed forever.  
But to return to this Priest Dingly in particular, after the Servants of God a fore named bad been kicked, beaten with a staff, and fists of wickedness, upon his fasting day, and had caused them to be imprisoned (by the help of Thomas Bowrman) then from the prison did they write unto him, who was so brutish, like the Pastors before, Jer. 10. 21. That he would not read the Letter, nor open it, but in a filthy fottish manner took a payer of tongs, and held it to a Candle, and burned it, saying, he would try whether it were bewitched, or the Devil in it; but he himself is in the witchcraft, not obeying the Truth, as may easily be proved, Gal 3. And envy which is of the Devil is found in himself, the which Spirit of the Devil that guided him therein, would also burn their bodies that sent it, if he had but a Law, and such a power as his fathers the Bishops had, who burned the Martyrs; and he also then said, the Devil is in you; but people may see, there is something of God in us, guiding us in patience to undergo much sufferings, and all manner of evil, that is done, or spoken against us, for his name's sake who is in us which to us turns for a testimony, against the world that we are of God, Luke 21. 12. 13. And it is because of the Spirit of Christ in us, (which testifies against the world, that we are hated, and that Spirit of Christ in us is, that which Priest Dingly calleth a Devil, saying, the Devil is in you, but it being Christ in us the hope of glory, he is an open Blaspemer, and a denier of Christ, that is come in the flesh, and so he is an Antichrist; Therefore all are to beware of harkening to his Doctrine, being found a Blaspemer, though he may speak never so smooth words, for he is not only full of envy, but also of conveteousness, for he claimed 3 l. (or less) for tithes of John Days, who desired not his Ministry, and then instead of less than 3 l. he caused four cows to be taken from him worth above 12 l. and so he is not only in filthy Lucre (contrary to the Scripture) whose mouth should be stopped, but also unreasonable therein, to demand 3 l. of a man that owed him nothing, and then to have above four times so much as he asked for, taken from him, Hosea might well number such as he amongst Robbers and Murtheres, Hosea 6. 9 and this is not all neither, for after he had caused these 4 cows to be taken from him, he also caused the man himself to be cast into prison, because he came into his own Parish Steeplehouse, and spoke some words there, and as for coming into the Steeplehouse, he had as much right as another man of their Parish; and sometimes the Priests and Rulers would force friends to pay 2s 6d. because they do not come to their parish steeplehouse, and when they do come, they send them to prison for coming, was ever the like wickedness practised by any Priests and Rulers before? And in all these things, Thomas Bowrman was a Servant to the corrupt covetous will of this persecuting Priest, for by his order also or warrant, was John Days cows taken away, and he himself sent to prison, where he is now committed to the house of correction.  
And moreover R. D. did cause Winifred Newman to be imprisoned for speaking a few words in his Steeplehouse, after he had done, and she was a servant to a Widow, and the fatherless, and from them the Priest caused her to be taken to prison, and such as he Isaiah cried against, Isa. 56. 10, 11. for in his days also widows became their prey, and they rob the fatherless, Isa. 10. 2. And what an unreasonable thing was this, to rob the Fatherless and Widow of a servant, who was daily serviceable unto them; but now they commit iniquity by their Law, but the Law of God is made for menstealers, 1 Tim. 1. 10. And T. B. sent her to Prison also, and so consented with the Thief, Psal. 50. 18. and was in all these things a ready servant to this ungodly Priest, whom at present I leave until the hand of God overturn him, and all the rest, that they may leave their names for a hissing and a curse, like the Bishops before them, who were as loath to come down, as the Priests are to follow after.  
Here followeth something in short of the long unjust imprisonment of James Pottar, being also a husbandman, taken out of his hohonest employment by the means of the Priest of the Parish of Baghust, whose name is Edward Bental.  
I Who am clear in the fight of God of the breach of any law either of God, or of the Nation, by which I may justly suffer, or of any evil intent or purpose against the person of any man or woman whatsoever, but have and do desire to keep a conscience void of offence towards God and man; as the Lord of life, whom I serve in my spirit knoweth; yet was I by order from Richard Kingsmill, and William Withar, who are set to do justice in the County of Southampton, taken out of my honest lawful employments, without any examination, not having that liberty as to appear before them to answer for myself against those false accusations (which through envy, and from the wickedness of the hearts of Edward bental Priest, and others) was laid to my charge, but was had away to the common Gaol at Winchester, where I was kept a close Prisoner until the Affizes following, at which time I was had up to the Bar amongst Thiefs and Murderers: And although nothing of what I was accused, nor any evil was there proved against me, yet was I by the Order of Judge Nicholas returned back again to the Gaol, there to be kept a Prisoner, unless I would pay a fine of five pounds, because I did not put off my hat, according to their Heathenish custom, which there is no law in the Nation for: And as for the Law of God, he that respecteth persons, or preferreth him that weareth the gay clothing & gold Ring, before him that is in vile raiment, maketh himself a transgressor.  
Now thus I declare, that I own no man any thing but love, yet am I ordered to continue in Prison (until I pay the said fine of 5 l.) where I have been already kept before, and since the aforesaid Assize, about 63 weeks amongst Thiefs & Murderers, Drunkards, Swearers, Blasphemers, and almost all manner of wicked persons; by whose wickedness and ungodly practices my soul hath been daily grieved, and my life often burdened, and pressed down, yea what I have in this place suffered is not herein to be named; but woe unto them by whom the occasion cometh, by which the just doth suffer.  
Thus I who am freeborn of the Nation, am not only deprived of my right and liberty in the Nation (which hath been so much contended about, and so much blood shed for) but also kept in long and cruel bondage (contrary to any Law either of God or man) by most unjust and unreasonable men, and that not for any evil, or withholding from any man his right, or the honour that is due to any, who do honour all men in the Lord, though the world's honour, with all their customs, fashions and traditions I deny for ever; but if humility be before honour, as the Scripture doth witness, Prov. 15. 13 and 18, 12. then a proud man is not to be honoured, and he that honoureth the proud (whom the Lord resists) he honoureth the Devil, who is king over all the children of pride, Job 41. 34. who is their head and ruleth in them, and so the honour which proud flesh doth love, and lust after, who are angry and seek revenge by casting into prison, or otherwise persecuting where its not given them, is to be denied by all them that fear the Lord, and this I know that those that witness the flesh crucified, with the affections and lusts, they cannot feed nor satisfy the lusts in others where it ruleth, by giving them honour according to their corrupt wills, though they suffer by them, as I do (at this day) under their merciless cruelty and tyranny.  
Oh! how hath the Devil blinded the minds of people, who are so foolish, vain, and corrupt in their carriages one towards another, with bowing, bending, cringing, putting off hats, with foolish gestures and deceitful words, as Your humble servant, and such like, being proud, haughty, & highminded, and will scoff, and mock, despise one another when they are apart, and seek one another's hurt, when anger ariseth in them one against another. And at the Assizes will not Thiefs and Murderers put off their hats to the Judge, and give him the titile of your Honour? and call him their Lord, and down upon their knees to him, as at the aforesaid Affizes? And wherefore is it? to honour him, when as perhaps, if so be they had him in another place with opportunity, they would make him bow to them, and take away his money, if not his life.  
What cursed flattery and deceit is used among people who know not God, nor fear before him? and how is proud flesh bewitched with it? How common is it for the poor man to stand uncovered to the rich? giving deceitful Titles, as Your Worship, your Honour, and such like, whereby God is rob, to whom all honour, glory, and worship is to be given: and he that is rich and great in the earth, giving the plain language of Thee and Thou, (and is not here respect of persons, by which the law of God is transgressed?) And when the poor man is gone from the rich, he will speak plainly of him, and say he is proud, covetous, and the like, and this I have often seen and heard, and ask them wherefore they use such deceit in their carriage towards them? they will many of them acknowledge and say, they must do it, the great men look for it, and their causes else they will not hear, nor do any thing for them; and this deceit and flattery is of the Devil, and so the Devil in them is pleased with it; but such who cannot bow to his pride, but stand witnesses against it (who can bow to none but the Lord alone) such he persecutes and casts into prison.  
He that boweth to the will of man, to please or have the favour of proud flesh, he is an idolater, and a transgressor of the Law, which saith, Thou shalt not bow down nor worship any, and such bow not to the Son of God, to whom every knee shall bow; and such who call themselves Christians, and are seeking their own honour, are hypocrites, mockers, and diffemblers with God, the Son of God, who came to do the will of his Father, and did the works that none could do besides, said, I receive not honour from man, John 5. 41. And said to such who were seeking their own honour, how can ye believe which receive honour one of another, and seek not the honour that cometh from God only, John 5. 44. And so such who are seeking and receiving honour one of another, are not believers, nor come to the faith, which respects no man's person, and so are Infidels, and without God in the world. And these are they that would have the servants of God how down, and become servants to their corrupt wills, who know not God, neither are of him, but are enemies to him in all their ways, and are of the generation fo proud Haman, who Mordecai refused to bow unto, although it was the command of the King; and therefore did Haman build a Gallows fifty cubits high to hang him thereon, Esther 7. 9 And also did seek to destroy all the Jews that were in the King's Provinces; and the same spirit is it that now ruleth in all such who persecute the servants of God, by casting them into prison, where their wills is not obeyed, nor bowed unto, by giving the honour of the world unto them.  
Wherefore all people mind the light of Christ in your consciences, that reproveth for sin and evil, and of all your pride, deceit, hypocrisy, and respecting of persons, and of all unrighteousness, that by it you may be lead out of the world, and out of all its ways, fashions, customs, and traditions, which are evil, up unto God, to serve and worship him alone, who is a jealous God, and will not give his glory unto another, who will bring down the mighty from their ungodly seats, and will exalt the meek and the lowly, and all that are proud and do wickedly and all that persecute and make a prey upon the innocent, shall be as the chaff before an unquencheable fire; And the loftiness of man shall be bowed down, and his haughtiness laid low, in this the day of his mighty power, in which he is arising to shake terribly the earth, & to give unto mystery Babylon and all her Merchants that are trading with her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of his wrath, and all who worship the Beast or his Image, and are joined together with him (making war against the Lamb and his followers) shall have their portion together in the Lake that burns for ever.  
James Pottar.  
Having thus let the cause appear of the committing of other friends under their own hands, and having not been wanting before in sending & writing unto the Rulers, to lay their unjust retaining of us in bonds before them thereby to attain our just liberty; but being most like at present to be deprived thereof, & seeing that they commit more also unto Prison, we willingly together gave up our bodies to suffer, if it were until death, and only sought to have the liberty to work as before was mentioned; therefore we writ as followeth, and sent it to them called Justice Cobb, and Justice Betsworth.  
WE whose consciences are clear in the sight of the living God, that we have not injured nor wronged any person, neither broke the Law of God, whose witness will abide in us for ever, that we are this day in bonds for the testimony of a a good conscience, under the cruel oppression of men of sin, who have taken several of us out of our honest lawful employments, and in prison kept us from our labours, which we should labour in, for the maintenance of ourselves and families, whose souls do abhor idleness, neither dare we eat any man's bread for nought; and by this unjust imprisonment have many of us suffered much, because we could not proceed in our present occasions, some of our families also wanting us much, whose wives are left as Widows, and children as the fatherless: And seeing men's hearts continue so hard, as to keep us so long in bonds from our business, therefore we have endeavoured to have liberty to work with our hands in the Prison, something whereof having been granted by order in writing from John Bulkley.  
We being in all 7 persons kept always close prisoners, and what abuses and hardships we have suffered, we mention little herein, who are not only deprived of our way of livelihood and liberty in the Nation, but also restrained from having that liberty which the rest of the servants of God have in most, or in all Prisons in England, which is, of having liberty for one or more of us to go forth into the Town to buy food, and to provide other necessaries for the rest; and for want of this liberty we have often wanted water to drink, and sometimes bread to eat, and other things when some of us have been sick, yet have we not troubled you with many complaints herein, but in secret have we poured forth our souls with prayers and tears unto the Lord God of life, who seethe all our wants, and knoweth our innocency, and in his due time can us deliver; but if not, to the Devil we cannot bow, for our souls are subject to the higher power, which preserved them that broke the decrees and commands of men, which is more than is justly charged upon us, Esther. 3. 2. Dan. 3. Dan. 6. Act. 4. 17, 18.  
Now the thing which we writ for, is that which is just in the sight of God, and but reasonable in the sight of any reasonable Minister of the Law (which law they themselves say should be grounded upon reason) which thing is, we being six men, and one woman, that she the aforesaid woman, whose name is Winifred Newman, or any other of us, may have liberty to go forth and buy, & bring in other needful things for the rest of us, that so we may no more be put to the extremity of want, nor to the charge of hiring another to do that for us, which we might well do ourselves, who have been at great charge already, besides other loss, and that she or another of us may also bring work in and out for us, and such things as may be needful for us to work with and upon; And that she, or either of us, having this liberty granted, shall be as a prisoner, without the least intent of running away, we shall all engage and promise, so far as men fearing God can promise herein, that which we chief intent is combing of Wool.  
A speedy answer or order in writing herein is expected, & according to justice desired by the members of Christ in Prison (& house of Correction) at Winchester, whose names are Anthony Melledg, William Baily, Humphrey Smith, James Pottar, Daniel Baker, George Henderson, and Winifred Newman.  
THis Paper was directed and sent to Justice Cobb, and Justice Betsworth (as they were called) but was chief intended for Justice Cobb, who was as Judge at the Sessions before, who being without natural affection, denied the members of Christ in prison this so reasonable a thing, the which then I laid before the under-sheriff, and read a Copy of the Paper to him, he being then in the Prison, who granted the thing to be but reasonable, whereby it doth appear, that he and them that should do Justice were unreasonable, in denying that which was reasonable, and he said as the Justices did, that it was not in his power, than I asked him, in whose power it was, to grant this reasonable thing, seeing both Justice's Sheriff and Gaoler had denied it, than he referred me to one Browning, but suddenly I was informed that he was a Papist, and so I laid the unreasonableness of it upon him, that we (of whom some had been Captains, and others long serviceable for liberty from under Popish Tyranny, should be now deprived of all Justice and Equity and referred only to the the mercy of a Popish man.  
Oh the cruelty and hard heartedness of the Sons of men, who can read it without mourning, no Transgressor in the prison but might be heard, nor the cause of any thief so turned aside, but the Lord of mercy was our refuge, who is a present help in time of need, and can never forget his Covenant, nor for sake his afflicted, who abide faithful, who in his mercy preserveth his Servants, but overturneth his enemies, for ever, and be did visit for these things, and began to avenge himself on his adversaries, though his Lambs rejoiceth not when the enemies falleth, nor in that the Devils are made subject, but in that there names are written among the living, but in our affliction I writ the a foregoing paper, and sent it to Justice Cob and Betsworth, upon the 11. day of the 4. month the 6. day of the week, and upon the 16. day of the same month the 4. day of the week at night the a foresaid Justice Cob was suddenly cut off, though no outward eye saw how, which was to the astonishment of his family and many more And the man which the Justice and Priest Bental caused to swear falsely against James Pottar, the same man was since that time bruised, torn, and spoilt with a horse and harrows, so that he died very shortly after being before troubled in conscience for what he had sworn; yet notwithstanding Scripture is fulfilled, when the Lords hand is lifted up, they will not see but they shall see and be ashamed.  
And it may be observed that we had sent several other papers to the Justice Cob (some whereof are herein written) all which he little regarded, he being a great enemy to Truth, and a Persecutor of friends, he being as a judge at another sessions was not satisfied, with the committing of Stephen Bevis to the house of correction, (who was before committed by Col. Norton, to the common Goal for hearing testimony against Priest Simons false Doctrine) but also gave order that he should not be suffered to work at his trade, but be put to pounding of hemp or some harder work though he declared his willingness in open court to work at his trade.  
A Copy of a paper to the sessions.  
You at whose hands the dreadful God of life, and his Servants doth require right and sound judgement, to be by you performed at this present sessions at Winchester.  
LEt our several causes be heard and read in open court, and let our innocent sufferings appear in the Light, before the eyes of the people, and let them by whom we suffer be made manifest, and do not shut up things in darkness, as at the last sessions, not suffering the cause of them who are oppressed to be read in the open Court, wherein, and in many other things we have been deprived of that which is just and right, the which i● proceeded in, will even be a shame unto you, for justice, Equity and true Judgement is that we do both expect, and would gladly see brought forth in you; therefore do not wait to lay farther snares, to betray the simple, whereby to cover that oppression some of you have acted in against the Servants of the living God, but let the fear of God guide you, that sound Judgement you may come unto, whereby rightly to understand, what or what manner of evil, we have done, or what Law of God we have broken, and what accusations are against us, with the ground and cause of those accusations, and take heed of entertaining false witness, or joining with it, or forcing men to swear against the members of Christ, contrary to God's witness in them, (as Thomas Bowrman hath done) and if any thing be, or hath been proved, or any one falsely accused, either of the Servants of God, or any other, you are to see that you do not punish such accused above or beyond the fact, or crime charged against them, and herein all that rule for God, are and should be guided with an understanding heart, in the spirit of wisdom, and knowledge, as Moses, Joshua, Solomon and others were, that none may be oppressed by wrong Judgement, nor ensnared because of envy, and prejudice which lodgeth in the deceitful hearts of men, who are out of God's fear.  
For we who are in scorn called Quakers, do wait to have true Judgement set up in the earth, in righteousness, established in and among the Sons of men, and are friends unto and Lovers of all them who judge for God, without respect of persons, and a praise to them that do well; And he that reproves a Hireling that stands praying in the Synagogue, doth well, for Esaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Micah, Malachiah, Hosea, and Christ, and Paul and Peter did reprove, and bear testimony against such, and for the same things are the members of Christ, in your days haled out of the Synagogues, brought before Rulers, and cast into Prison, whom you should be a praise unto, for therein they do well, being moved of the Lord thereunto, whose mouths, by men of sin, are not to be stopped, though they would have us, or command us to speak no more in his name who maketh an end of sin, and said I am the Light of the world, whose Light hath led us out of evil, and so are become a prey unto an adulterous generation, that know not God, whose love in our hearts, hath constrained us to obey him rather than man, in that wherein man would hinder us in our obedience unto God, whose power worketh in ●s mightily, which keepeth us from under the bondage of man's corrupt will, yet to the higher power our souls are subject, even to that power which preserved them who broke the Commands and Decrees of men, Hest. 3. 2. Dan. 3. Dan. 6 Acts 4. 17. 18.  
Several papers have we sent to you (who should do Justice) of our unjust and unreasonable sufferings in prison, and little hath it been by you regarded, one of which papers we sent by a friend to John Hook (called a Justice) of Bramshot, which friend, since gave us an account in writing, that when he came to deliver the paper, John Hooks Clerk beat him in the house, and others also abused him and, after he was gone out of the house, another who belonged to the house followed him, and in a Lane did beat him, and kick him very much, and this was very evil, which you are to punish.  

Here followeth a short Relation of something of the cause of the committing and retaining of the members of Christ in prison.  



Anthony Melledg  
William Baily  
Humphrey Smith   IMprisoned two weeks without the breach of any Law, and since kept in the House of Correction about 17 weeks from their business, and from their home, because they cannot promise to go home, who know no law requiring them to make any such promise, and where there is no law, there is no transgression.   

Winif. Newman Imprisoned for speaking a few sober words to the hireling Priest (who cannot cease from sin, 2 Pet. 2 14.) after he had ended, she being before a servant to a Widow and fatherless, and so the hireling Priest by causing her to be imprisoned, hath caused both she, the widow and the fatherless to suffer.   



Daniel Baker  
Geo: Henderson   Imprisoned for speaking words of truth to the same Priest and people, which Priest said, that God was author of evil. And another Priest before the Magistrate wrested the Scripture, to affirm, that Christ did swear, when he said, Verily, verily.   

John Day Imprisoned for reproving the same hireling Priest (Robert Dingly) who confessed he and his flock were full of sin and evil, which also doth appear by their envy and persecution, which is of the Devil.   

James Pottar Imprisoned without the breach of any law, and fined at the following Assizes 5 l. because he could not transgress the Law of God, by respecting of persons, to satisfy the lusts and corrupt wills of men, in not putting off his hat when he was brought to the said Assizes, of whom also is demanded 3 l. for fees, who have been kept a close prisoner under these cruel oppressions 59 weeks and some days.    
From them who are not only ready to suffer bonds, and long unjust imprisonments, but also death itself, if the Lord require it of us, in testimony against all Deceivers, and all manner of unrighteousness and oppressions; and we are friends to the Commonwealth, and to equity and true judgement, having true love to the souls of all mankind, who for the testimony of a pure conscience are Prisoners by the corrupt wills of men, in the Common Gaol and house of Correction at Winton.  
At this last Sessions D. B. G. H. I. D. were committed to the House of Correction (being prisoners before) the which them set to do justice would not have done, if they had not looked out more at the unrighteous hireling Priests vain customs, and the glory of the world, which shall all perish, then to the light of Christ (which endureth for ever) in their consciences which did then much judge them for what they did against the servants of God, and let them see their evil therein, the which Light they are to love, obey, and follow.  
From the servant of God in Prison to the Judge of the Assize at Winchester. A Copy of a Paper to the Assizes.  
THe righteous Judge of heaven and earth, who respecteth not the persons of the mighty, who tryeth the hearts of Kings, who is the mighty God of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and their seed (who wandered up and down) some having no certain dwelling place, even he who seethe the secret intents of the hearts of the sons of men, whose judgements are just and true, who rewardeth the proud in his judgements, and heareth the cry of the oppressed; who will reprove Kings for the sake of the simple, and forsaketh not his faithful afflicted ones, who by the man Christ Jesus will judge the secrets of all men's hearts, according to his light in them, whereby every man shall receive a just recompense of reward, according to all their words and actions, whether for, or against him and his people.  
Wherefore this O man! thou art to know, that true ●ight and sound judgement is to be by thee performed, according to the righteous Law of God, which is written in the heart, that corrupt judgement, cruelty, persecution, nor receiving of gifts, nor entertaining false witness, may not be found in thee, nor in any of them that Join with thee, whether they are called Sheriffs, Justices, Jury men, Clarks, or any other; but that according to the Law of God, in his fear thou may perform that which the Lord God of hosts certainly will require of thee, in the day when all the arm of flesh, and honour of the world will not prevent the true & everlasting judgements of the most high, with fierce wrath and indignation upon all them who pervert true judgement, and transgress the righteous Law of God written in the heart.  
The which that thou may not do, nor see done before thine eyes, when thou may prevent it, and that thou may escape the wrath of the Almighty, which will certainly come upon all who pervert judgement, and that in the council of God thou may come to stand in meekness and godly fear, to judge for God, & not for man, that his will by thee may be performed; that when thou come to stand before the Throne of his eternal judgements, thou may not be turned to the left hand, with them that forget God, and turn his Law behind their backs, and oppress his servants, and neither visit, relieve, nor set at liberty the members of Christ in Prison, who in these your days are in most Prisons where thou come, and in Prison have been sick, and deprived of that liberty which Thiefs and Murderers have; & that thou may come to be joined to God's witness with it in thee, to see & rightly to understand the ground and cause of things of which thou art to judge. Therefore art thou to be guided by the light in thee, which comes from Christ, who is the sure foundation, and was before-transgression, by which the transgression is seen, and with it is to be judged, which light in thee will let thee see the ground of all transgression, & by the same out of transgression thou art to be led, and then to judge over that which is in the transgression, that so those who dare not transgress the righteous law of God, thou mayst be a praise unto, and all such who reprove sin in the gate, market places, public assemblies, or elsewhere; and that all who transgress the law of God, with that of God in thy conscience, thou may be a terror unto, executing true judgement upon that head which goeth forth from the light, into the transgression, for that is it for which the Law is added, which by the Law which is perfect is to be judged, that out of the transgression man may be kept.  
Therefore hear with meekness and in patience, understand and consider my words; for all the holy men of God, who ruled for God, and not for men, were therein guided by that which is holy, pure, just and right, whereby they were guided in his fear, to execute his judgements only upon the transgressor, according to the will of him, by whom otherwise they themselves were to be judged, and they were guided by that spirit in them which gave forth the Law, and with that joined to execute the Law upon them that did transgress the law of God, with whom in so doing they were said to be a help-government, and such were called Gods, who bore not the sword in vain, standing in the higher power, to which their souls were subject, to bring the transgressor in obedience thereunto; but such who did not transgress the righteous law of God, their souls were already subject to that higher power; but when man who should rule for God, stood not in his council, but went themselves into the transgression (out of the power) and judged for reward, such the light in them was darkened, that they could not see the transgressor, but let him go free, and punish the just, as Pilate and many others did, even in the days of the Prophets, who then cried out against them, because they were become as ravening wolves, and then of such it is written, I said ye were gods, but ye shall die like men, and fall as one of the Princes; and because of wrong judgement, and the want of true exercise in the perfect law of God, have many fallen, and been overturned, even Kings, Princes, Parliaments, Bishops, Judges and Rulers, as also in these your days, even whole Nations turned up side down.  
Therefore O man, let thy heart be opened to receive instruction from the Lord, and let thy mind be enlightened with the light of his Son, which light is it that giveth the knowledge of God, & the right understanding of the perfect law of life, that in the light which comes from Christ, thy mind may be exercised towards God, that his enemies in his fear and dread thou may rule over, and unto the friends of Christ who do well, to be a praise, and a Minister of the law for good, that in thy place thou may be just, fearing God, and hating covetousness, doing that which is good, that in the end of thy days thou may have the praise of the same, and receive that honour which man cannot keep from thee, that thy soul may rest in peace, which is the desire of the members of Christ in bonds at Winchester.  
H. S.  
A Copy of a warning to the Rulers.  
Harken and hear ye men that shall die, is it not for you O ye Judges, and Rulers of the earth, to know, believe in, and be subject to the higher power, even the eternal light of the Son of God in your consciences, wherein true and sound judgement is placed? thereby should you be guided in the fear and council of God to minister true & sound justice and judgement to all what soever Causes comes before you, with patience & meekness to hear the poor, as well as the rich, for you are not to have respect of persons in judgement, neither to take bribes, receive gifts or rewards, or receive, or give honour one to another, or compel any to give it to you, who seek and live not in the honour of God only, your Judgement being corrupted, the eye being blinded by the God of the world, who with his subjects or servaats would be honoured, above all that is called God, and so the just suffers, the sword is laid upon the innocent (the guiltless smitten with the fist of wickedness) which sword should slay the transgressor. Take heed you be not suddenly destroyed by the hand of the great and mighty God, and so you bring eternal judgement and condemnation upon your heads; which most assuredly will be executed upon all that forget God, who shall be cursed from his presence, and turned into hell.  
Wherefore know that there is no iniquity, neither respect of persons with the Lord God of hosts, who hath shaken his hand at dishonest gain, and despiseth the gain of oppression, even he then will be with you in the Judgement, when as you to his power become subject, and so you will be a good savour to the upright in heart, & answer that of God in all consciences, and become a terror to evil doers, and a praise to them that do well, when you with a single eye see, know, and lay the Sword in its due place, as men of truth, fearing God, hating covetousness, meek and merciful.  
The mighty day of God's wonderful power (is come) and of your visitation and time of trial, (O ye rebellious Children of Darkness) who know not at what you stumble; yea, this day of the Lord is, and will be the life of all the meek of the earth, though it is & will be a day of howling, trembling, and astonishment, of fury, blackness, & darkness, and of eternal condemnation, to all the proud and lofty workers of iniquity, yea the day of breaking down, laying low the pride and loftiness of men that shall die is come, and the mighty God the Lord of hosts alone is, and shall be exalted.  
Wherefore woe from his dreadful presence to all the proud and lofty, and all that do wickedly, who are as stubble for the unquenchable fire, which is the portion of all that forget God, who put the day of the Lord afar off, which is darkness & not light unto such who are strong & mighty to do evil, calling light darkness, and darkness light, turning judgement backward, laying the sword (which should be upon the head of the transgressor) upon the innocent, whose pure consciences are exercised towards God; so that truth cannot enter, equity is fallen in the streets, justice standeth afar off, and as it was in the days of old, so it is now, He that departeth from iniquity, makes himself a prey, becomes a sign and a wonder to this evil, rebellious, & adulterous generation: And thus the guiltless is smitten with the fist of wickedness, and the transgressor goes free, but he in whose sight all the Nations are but as the drop of a bucket, whose name is dreadful among the heathen, even he is risen to plead the cause of the innocent, confound, overturn, and break in pieces (as a potter's vessel) his enemies, with an utter overthrow, to set his poor prisoners and captivated suffering seed at liberty from such who oppress persecute, scorn, and make a prey, and puff at them. Woe be to you by whom we suffer.  
Wherefore this is a warning from a true Lover of your souls to every one of you, (O ye Judges and Rulers, for this County of Hampshire) to repent and let this day of God's love, and of your visitation, be precious ' in your sight, who sit in darkness under the shadow of death, and let this my Council (in the fear of the Lord) be acceptable, and break off your mighty sins by righteousness, do justly, love mercy, relieve the oppressed, and let fruits meet for repentance be brought forth, therefore I say repent, and turn to the Lord God who is Light, a measure of which is in every of your Consciences, a free gift the grace of God which is to (and will) lead to the God of the Spiris of all flesh, as to it you become obedient, I say again let fruits meet for repentance be brought forth, lest you be cut down as fruitless trees, and die in your sins.  
Woe be to you who are found among the unprofitable Servants persecuting and making a prey upon the innocent, who are faithful witnesses for the Lord God of life (which made the world) against all cursed practices and deeds of darkness whether in Priests, Rulers or People without respect of Persons.  
Remember you are warned in your life time, and so far he hath cleared his Conscience in the fight of God (whether you hear or forbear) who am a Friend to that which exalts a Nation, a Lover of Souls, a Sufferer for the Testimony of a pure Conscience, known to the World by the name of his flesh,  
Daniel Baker. Winchester Prison this 13. of the 5. month 58.  
Now this may be observed, that no Wanderer, nor Transgressor was kept in this prison, nor house of correction because they would not promise to go home, but only we who do not transgress, and many persons hath been committed to the house of correction since we, and soon released again, as them Irish wand'ring men, who had not any habitation in England as we hear of, were soon released, but not us, and again any of their complaints would be heard by the Rulers, and their papers received and read (which was but just) but why then should we be deprived, of that right (every way) which they have, let the Rulers of Hampshire return me any good reason according to Law, for their partiality herein, for we sent a copy of one of the papers before written, for some just right and liberty to John Bulkley (and a book which I freely gave him in which was some of his own actions which his Clerk said his Master desired it might be printed, and if so, he might as well desire to have it) and he sent his Clerk after the messengers, who laid his hands on their goods, and broke up and read Letters which were of concernment, and he also took away from them, 7. or 8 books or there abouts, which books were as properly the Goods of us called Quakers, as the clothes on our backs, the which to be violently taken from us, is by us esteemed no less than robbery, being not restored, and so to be punished, and not practised by a Magistrate, especially by such a zealous out side professor as John Bulkley.  
And so though any vile person might be heard, yet I have made it appear (but it is to the shame of the Rulers) that we sent a messenger to John Hook of Bramshot, and his Clerk beat the Messenger, and we sent another paper by other friends to John Bulkley, and did not he send his Clerk and rob them? and than we sent another paper, to that preverse rash tyrannical man, who is an evil example to all Rulers and People, called judge Nicholas, at the Assizes, and he bid the Gaoler take that Messenger; Therefore now let Gods witness in every Conscience answer, whether that which Rules in these (and the like) men be to be honoured, and they flattered or owned, to be men ruling for God, or to be herein denied and declared against by all such whose Souls are subject to the higher power, which is God's Ordinance, which whosoever resists, to please such men's wills, shall receive to themselves damnation.  
Pharaoh King of Egypt (of darkness) kept the Servants of God in bondadge, and would not let them go, for which the plagues and Judgements of God came upon him, and at last thick darkness which might be felt, and when the Judgements of God were upon him, he would promise to let them go, but it was upon condition, that they might leave some thing behind them, that he might make a prey upon, therefore he bid them go, but leave their flocks and herds behind them, but Moses was faithful, and said not a hoof should be left behind.  
And so john Bulkley and the rest who sit in darkness and rule with the powers thereof, hath embondaged the Servants of God, for which his Judgements hath often come near the heart of him, and others, even thick darkness which they might feel overpowering their hearts, even bringing them down to the Chambers of death, and then in their minds, and also in words would promise to let us go, but it was upon condition, that we should leave something behind us, for he or they to make a prey upon; therefore it was offered we might go if we would leave an engagement behind us, by giving security to go home, and when they could not have that then they would have us leave a promise behind us, by promising to go home, and when they could not have that, than they would have some words to that purpose, or some desires from us, for john Bulkley asked Ann Read, what was desired, and if any thing was desired it should be done, but we did not desire any thing as to beg it of them, but wait for true justice and judgement, and when john Bulkley with the rest saw that not a hoof nor the least thing should be left behind of ours for him and them to boast of afterwards, than he, and more of them were tormented, and refused to let us go out of their bondage from under their Oppressors, and out of their Workhouse, like Pharaoh, who also kept the Servants of God in his bondage, under his work, therefore was he destroyed for ever, as these are in danger to be.  
Thus much at present of the unreasonableness of the Rulers and the bruitishness of the Priests, Jer. 10. 21. next may be expected to come forth our cruel sufferings in the prison, under Em. Hobbs, whom it is more fit that she herself were kept in a house of correction or in chains, then to be suffered to be a Gaoler, who hath also suffered other Friends to be much abused that came to visit us, who were at first like to suffer to death in this prison, and house of correction, where the Servant (who is not greater than his Lord) doth suffer by them of whom I am called,  
Humphrey Smith. Finished in Winchester common Goal, and house of correction, the 6. day of the week, the 6. day of the 6, month, 58.   

The sounding voice of the dread of God's mighty power, to all the Judges and Rulers of the earth, who rise up against the Lamb, And to Gog, Magog, and all their Arms, And to the whole host of the powers of darkness, and to all men, who fight against God, who, or whatsoever they be (or whatsoever they are called.)  
BEhold ye Rulers of the earth, listen and hear, all ye earthly minded men, let the blindness of you minds be opened, that your dark hearts may be enlightened, hear I say and stop not your cares, you whose minds are in the earth, whose eyes are closed, whose hearts are covered, with a thick vail, by your own iniquity, who see not the wonders of the Lord, wrought among the living, neither perceive the mighty power of the God of the whole earth; who are besotted through the sinfulness of your continual transgressions, and are grovelling as moles in the earth, & laden with thick clay, and covered with the vail that is spread over all flesh, that you see not the glory of the God of life, neither perceive ye the comeliness, of the holy one of Jacob, to whom the bright morningstar, is as a cloud of darkness, and the way of the living God, as a fierce whirlwind of fire, who see not him that dwelled in the Bush, neither hear his voice, who hath made darkness his habitation, and his pavilion round about him, thick clouds of the sky.  
Hear I say, and let my words, have entrance in you, and let the sound of my voice, take place in your hearts, let the opening of my lips give astonishment to the wicked, and the enlargement of my heart the confounding of the Heathen, let the dread of the Lord take hold upon the Hypocrites, and astonishment seize upon the double minded, let the prudent keep silence and hear, and let the honourable be quiet and consider, let the understanding give audience to my words, and let the mouth of the fool be stopped, let the sinner stand still and be quiet, and let the ungodly consider the words of truth, rebel not against the word of the Lord, neither harden your hearts against the dread of his power, let the tall ceders bow and bend, and that which is lifted up be brought down, and stand ye all in meekness.  
For behold the omnipotent power is come, the rock of ages is revealed, the everlasting strength is made manifest, the God of Abraham hath reached forth his hand, and the Redeemer of Israel is come to dwell in the midst the great Jehovah hath uttered his voice, and he whose Name is I Am, is at hand, he that moveth upon the waters may be felt, & he that formeth the seed in the womb may be known, he that inhabiteth eternity, is come to dwell in his people, and walk in the midst of the poor despised of his flock, having cleansed them by the washing of water, and renewed them by the Spirit of burning, & refined them, with his righteous Judgements, and cleansed them with the blood of his Son, that in his Zion (redeemed with judgement) he may dwell for ever more, and take up his rest in the midst of his people, having made the place of his feet glorious, and his residence as a seat in the midst of a fire, which fire burneth against all them that are in the night, and given light to them that are in the covenant, whose glory is hid from the dark mind, and his council withholden from the unbelieving in heart, he standeth near unto the wicked, who perceiveth him not, and taketh notice of his secret intents, he observeth the footsteps of the Kings of the earth, and marketh the decrees of the unrighteous, and when they have filled up their measure, he putteth forth his finger to their life, and taketh away their breath, he suddenly cuts off the wicked, and regardeth not the mightiness of Princes, he searcheth the hearts of the Kings, and ruleth over the powers of men, his infiniteness, can never be declared, in his hand is the breath of the life of the souls of all mankind.  
Hear I say and consider my words, and ponder the meditations of my mind, for behold the Lord God of life is come, Immanuel is revealed, the Root and offspring of David is grown up as a plant of renown, the Seed of the shepherd fits upon the throne, and before him shall all the Kings of the earth lay down their Crowns; every Emperor shall bow and bend; and the Potentates of the earth (before him) shall whither as a green herb, their glory shall perish as the untimely birth of the womb, their honour shall vainish as the smoke before the wind; their wisdom shall fade away, as a blossom cut off, and their understandings shall come to nothing; the wisdom of the most high shall be exalted over them all, and with his foolishness, will he them all confound, yea with a foolish Nation will he anger the Judges of the earth, and with a despised people will he provoke the Rulers of the world to jealousy, by the foolishness of his flock, will he confound his enemies, and by his weakness in them, will he subdue the strength of the mighty, and though all his enemies (strive) in the arrogancy of their Spirits, and in the fierceness of their strength, yet shall he be exalted, who is lead as a Lamb dumb, and he shall reign whose right it is, in whose mouth there is found no guile, who maketh an end of sin, and bringeth in everlasting righteousness, and setteth up judgement in the heart, and cometh to rule in the Kingdoms of men, and overturneth the host of his enemies, by whom Judges are lead away fools, deviners turned made, before whose presence the mightiness of the mightiest Rulers of the earth is as wax before the fire, and their strength meltteth away as the fat of Lambs.  
Wherefore hear and see, O ye kindreds and Rulers of the earth, the Lord our God is come, the might of his strength is revealed, & the power of his presence made known; he hath chosen his Army to himself, & their names are written in his life; he hath numbered up his hosts together, and armed his chosen with his everlasting strength; the Captain of his host goeth before them, and the camp of the Lord is very great, they are numberless as the sand of the Sea, and infinite as the stars of heaven: Even so is the seed of Abraham, the remnant of the flock of Jacob, whom the Lord hath redeemed, who are chosen, and faithful, and true; yea, behold it's even so, and that all the Nations of the earth shall know, for the Lord of hosts rideth on in meekness, in the midst of his host, and maketh War in righteousness, with the enemies of the Lamb, who would not that he should reign, who makes an end of sin, and he is clothing his Army with ●eal as with a garment, and covering them with the armour of light, and preserveth their head in the day of battle, and girds them up with strength, and guideth their feet upon the rock, and preserveth their life under the shadow of his hand. When he speaketh the word, his Army goeth forth, and at his command they march on their way● He listeth up a Standard before them, and proclaimeth open War against the Inhabitants of the Earth, who now hear that the Lamb is come to reign in Righteousness, and to slain the pride of their glory, and confound the height of their wisdom, and lay their honour in the dust for ever.  
Therefore all Kindred's of the earth, even Gog, Magog, and all the hosts of the heathen, are rising up in the bitterness of their spirits, in the height of the power of the man of sin, joining all their forces together, as in one band of darkness, taking counsel from Egypt, making a covenant with death, and an agreement with hell, and gathering up the utmost powers of darkness to be as a refuge unto them: And thus in the strength of the King of the childdrens of pride, they are rising up against the Lord, even the God of life, and against his anointed ones, who have indeed and in truth received the anointings, and need not man to teach them, but are all taught of the Lord God Almighty, who also teacheth their hands to war, and their fingers to fight: And he utters his voice as the sound of many waters, before his Army, who followeth him in the might of his power, whose presence is dreadful in the midst of his host, and there is none that is able to stand before him, for he is a consuming fire in the midst of his Camp, and burneth up his enemies round about; and before him and his Army shall all faces gather paleness, everlasting shame shall cover the glory of all flesh, before him all people shall be much pained, his dread and vengeance shall take hold on all his adversaries; His redeemed shall march with him in the travail of their souls, from strength to strength shall they continue on, and none shall be feeble among them; their arrows shall reach into the bowels of the scornful, and their words of life pierce the hearts of the hypocrites. They shall tread upon Kings, as upon mortar, and trample upon the wicked as upon ashes; they fear not the greatest Goliahs, neither yet the wickedness of the pride of Haman, unrighteous Decrees cannot stop their mouths, nor the fear of a Furnace, or a Dungeon withhold them from their way, all flesh is as graft before them, and at their rebuke shall the potsherds of the earth be broken for ever; before them there is no Nation shall stand, for one of them shall chase a hundred, and before five shall the strength and wisdom of a thousand be confounded.  
And this the Lords Army shall never be confounded, and his glory in them shall never be defaced, nor his power with them shall never be overcome, nor his strength in them shall never be vanquished; therefore in vain do all the potsherds of the earth strive; For they that rise up against them shall be as flax before the fire, and the mightiest among the sons of men shall be as the grass that is cut down; for the Lord's host is very terrible, and in meekness is the Lamb riding on to judgement, his followers are enrobed with the light of the morning, and adorned with the beauty of the Sun. Their eyes are enlightened with the light of the most high, & they see through the dark parts of all their enemies, and discern the secret plottings of all their adversaries. Their wisdom comes in like a river, and their understanding shall never be darkened. Their strength is renewed as the morning, and they are valiant to do exploits. The wisdom of the wise before them shall be confounded for ever, and the understanding of the prudent be esteemed as a thing of nought. They spy out the lurk of their enemies, and see through the cover of the deceitful. Of their strength they shall never be deprived, neither shall their weapons be taken from them. Their refuge shall never be shaken, nor the place of their rest removed. The wicked shall never enter upon their dwellings, nor all their enemies invade the land of their rest; for the desire of all Nations to them is come & him that they long waited for have they now received. And they tread upon the Cocka-trice den, and meet the devouring Lions; in the power of the Father's love there is no deadly thing that doth them hurt, nor any weapon form against them that ever shall prosper.  
And this is Zion, the redeemed of the Lord, the glory of the God of Israel, the seed of Jacob whom the Lord hath chosen, and set up on high over all the kindreds of the earth, which stands against all the enemies of the Lord, and is his new threshing instrument, with which he will thresh the Heathen in his anger, and bath, his sword in the blood of the slain, for behold his sword shall devour much flesh, and the slain of the Lord shall be many; with Zion the perfection of beauty will the Lord break in pieces, wound, confound and overturn for ever, the horse and his Rider; the Captain and his Troop; the Ancient and honourable; the Prophet that telleth lies, yea all the host of the unrighteous, and the strength of the Army of the man of sin, and the beauty of the whore that rides upon the beast, and all them who set themselves in battle against the Lord, and all them who lead into captivity and would captivate the Servants of the Lamb, shall go into captivity for ever.  
For behold the Lord is with us, the Shout of a King is among us, the Lord whose name is holy is come, he hath uttered his voice from Heaven, and now the Nations of the earth are angry, but the Lord will reign in righteousness, and all his enemies shall be astonished at his presence, and his adversaries shall be amazed for ever, their hearts shall be turned as a stone within them, and men shall be at their wit's end, for fear and for looking after those things which shall come upon the earth, and all them whose names are written in it, their wisdom shall not preserve them, their understandings shall not defend them, neither shall all their subtlety cover them from the Light, their nakedness shall appear to their everlasting shame, and the prisoners of hope shall rejoice over them for ever more.  
For behold I say your day is come, wherein you shall bow down under the prisoners, and fall under the slain, according to the words of the spirit of prophecy, Esay. 10. 4. and the slain over you shall rejoice for ever more, having the high praises of God in their mouths, and the sword of the spirit in their hearts, with which they shall cut in pieces and pierce in sunder, the bowels of all flesh, and it shall be as chaff before them, and the strength thereof as the passing away of the morning cloud, and in the strength of the most high, shall the Army of the Lion of the tribe of Judah, go on and prosper, even as Kings, whose Armies are swift to the battle, their faces are as an Adamant, and their countenances fierce, and terrible, the sound of their voice is dreadful, and the noise of their appearance astonisheth the Heathen, the earth before them is full of its fruit, behind them its a desolate wilderness, they spare not the ancient, nor the honourable, neither have they respect to the persons of men; they even smile at destruction when it's coming, and they are prepared for all your oppressions.  
Wherefore now gather yourselves together, O ye potsherds of the earth, and stand up all you that thirst for blood, assemble yourselves together all ye persecutors, let your counsels come up from hell, and let the depth of the powers of darkness show forth itself in the utmost of its strength, and with it combine ye all together, and stand up in the power of your King, which is the Angel of the bottomless pit, who is head among (in) and over all you who thirsteth for the blood of the innocent. Now come and draw near in the very height of your Father's wrath, and behold we meet you in the infiniteness of our Father's love, and stand you together in the depth of your secret subtlety, and behold we abide in the pure wisdom of the most High. Stand ye up for the glory and honour of the world, and we abide faithful for the glory of the Lord our maker.  
And this I say plainly unto you, that your long tyranny will never weary but the patience we have received, neither can you inflict more punishment than the Lord hath enabled us to bear; and as your wrath is increased, our humility is increased much more; and as you are filled, and moved with envy, we are much more filled and overcome with the power of the Father's life; and though you contrive ways to ensnare the innocent, we take no thought aforehand to deliver ourselves, for self we have denied, and we have given up our bodies and souls a living sacrifice unto God, to do or suffer his will. And him that kills the body we fear not, much less those that can but whip or imprison but for a few months; for our life you cannot reach, neither can you disturb their rest whom the Lord hath crowned with honour, who out of the world are redeemed and bought with the price of blood most precious, but are become his, to follow him whither ever he lead them, though it be through trials, great tribulations, bonds and long imprisonments, these things cannot move them who are brought to rest in the deserts, and sleep in the woods; Yea, and there is none can make them afraid with all their threats, unrighteous Laws, bonds, Bridewells, long unjust imprisonments, or death itself.  
And this honour hath the Saints, and herein do they rejoice for evermore, in that they are counted worthy to suffer for his Names sake, who was made perfect through sufferings, and thereby overcame all the powers of Darkness, whereby Principalities and powers are spoiled for ever, and through sufferings are we made more than conquerors over all our enemies, whose day will have an end, whose cruelty will cease, whose tyranny will be rewarded upon their own heads, and their memorial will rot for ever; but the faithfulness of the faithful shall never be taken from him, nor the innocency of the harmless shall never be forgotten, neither shall they ever want strength to stand in the day of battle, nor courage and boldness to endure, when the enemies of the Lord ariseth up in opposition against the brightness of the rising of the power of the Lamb of God, who is come to take away the sin of the world, even him who is the Light, and the Heir, against whom with one consent, the Rulers of the earth, the Hireling Priests, with all the profane, and unclean, and all them of all opinions in the world, are joining together in one combination, as with oneminde conspiring in their enmity, to slay, and murder the Heir that is now come to make an end of sin, who saith, I am the Light.  
H. S.  
THE END.