Strange and Wonderful News from ITALY, OR, A True and Impartial Relation of the Travels, Adventures, and Martyrdom of four emient Quakers of Yorkshire.  
Who in the Year 1672. Traveled through France, Italy and Turkey to propagate their Religion.  
Wherein is fully and faithfully declared the Designs, Endeavours and Attempts of these zealous Quakers for the Conversion of the TURK and POPE.  
With a summary account of the event and success of the business, and of all the most remarkable occurrents. As also a faithful Narrative of their private discourses, conferences and disputes which passed between these Quakers and the Pope, the Cardinal Nephew and Cardinal Barbarini.  
ALSO Of their Voyage to Constantinople, and of their most barbarous, cruel and bloody death by the special command of the Mufti and the Vizier Bassa.  
Faithfully and compendiously related by Elias Wilson Esquire, who was an eye-witness to a great part of these transactions.  
LONDON, Printed by John Lock, living in the Long Walk near Christ-Church Hospital, over against the sign of the Drawers. 1673.   

IT was towards the end of March in the year 1672. that John Watson, William Stubbs, Nathaniel Golden, and Rowland Jenkins, all of Yorkshire, and eminently known in that County to be Leading-men among the Quakers: It was I say, about that time that these men said they had the spirit of Burning and the Holy Anointing in them, and were called and sent by God to preach the everlasting Gospel to the Nations and Heathens. And they said that the child Jesus within them had assured them of great success, and that the Lord would be wonderfully with them in this Dispensation, that they should break the Bread of Life to the Nations, and that the Springs of Life should break forth out of their Bellies. It is a wonder to fee what strange effects and boldness these Enthusiastical persuasions and Fanatical Dreams caused in these poor Men. They were now swelled with hopes and expectation of Wonders. They now resolved to leave England and embark for France, and begin this great work of converting Nations and Heathens.  
Reader, I do intent to give you a true and impartial account of these men's actions in Foreign parts, as I have received it from their own mouths, and also been fully and faithfully informed by several other Persons of known worth and integrity, who were eye witnesses to the same.  
John Watson was a Gentleman of a pretty considerable Estate, and had been well educated, he had spent some years at University and had also formerly been a Traveller into France, Spain and Italy, all which Languages he throughly understood, and spoke very fluently. The other three were plain Countrymen, and knew no other language but their own, but fully persuaded themselves they should have the Gift of Tongues, and be endued with power from above.  
It is not my intent to write a Journal of these men's actions, for that would swell this little Pamphlet into a huge book. I intent only to relate some of the most signal and most remarkable of their affairs and transactions, which I heard from their own mouths when I was in Italy, and which have been also related and attested by other Persons of known integrity.  
In Easter-week they took Shipping at Dover, and were soon wafted over to Calis. I find not that they had any Impulse of Spirit to say or attempt any thing, but that they traveled on very peaceably and quietly, paying for what they had, and so came to the great City Paris, where they spent 2 days only and then advanced towards Lions, where they continued about a Fortnight. Here it was that the tumultuous spirit began first to exert and show itself to the French Nation. On April 27 William Stubbs said he had received a command from God to speak; and he signified as much to John Watson and the rest On the next day which was Sunday, about 10 of the Clock in the Forenoon they went all 4 to the great Cathedral, or St. John's Church, where they were celebrating high Mass (as they call it) about the middle of the Mass William Stubbs on a sudden climes over the ralls and goes up to the high Altar, where as he was beginning his Discourse in English (for as yet he had not received his Gift of Tongues) the Church Officers presently lay hands on him and carry him out, and commit him to Prison until the next day. On Monday the Officers have him before the Magistrate, who refuses to meddle in this case, but causes him forthwith to be sent to the Archbishop. The Archbishop is highly offended with him for his bold attempt, and resolves to punish him with all severity imaginable, he remits him to Prison, and orders that the next day at 10 of the Clock in the Morning, he be brought before him again. On Tuesday he is strictly examined what his intentions were, & how he durst be so bold to commit so great a crime in so public and confident a manner; His answers were altogether impertinent, and withal so insolent and saucy, that the Bishop sent him to the House of Correction where he was sound lashed. On Friday morning the Bishop ordered him to be brought before him again; and seemed to be much incensed against this poor Fanatic, Now the reason why his Grace was so fierce against this poor Man was, because some of his Servants had maliciously suggested to him that he was set on and encouraged to offer this public affront to their Divine Service by some of the Huguenot Ministers: which was a most malicious untruth, for as yet these Quakers had not had any the least correspondence or converse with any Protestant in France, as they did all very soberly attest to me in Italy. The Bishop was resolved to give him a full hearing, and to sift the business to the bottom. He asked him if he was not set on to do this irreverent action by the Huguenot Ministers? He replied no, he was moved by the Spirit of God within him, and that it was the Spirit of Burning and the Holy Anointing that had caused him to do what he had done. And here he entered into a long discourse, telling the Archbishop, and the Canons who were there present, that the Law of God was written upon men's hearts, and that now the time was come that they should all be taught of God: Now the Lords people were all to be Prophets, they were all to have fresh springs arise in their hearts. And that the Lord had sent him and three Friends more into these parts to break the bread of Life to the Nations, to open the hidden Mysteries of Christ's Kingdom, to overthrow the Babylonish Practices of Rome, to break the Serpent's Head, and wound the great Leviathan.  
The Archbishop▪ the Canons, and the whole Company were much astonished at this Man's confidence, and his wild and Fanatic discourse and answers, and began now to relent, and to pity this poor Man, and look upon him as a madman and one out of his senses, & so accordingly gave order to have him to the Hospital of mad people, and there carefully to be looked after until he gave further order.  
About a week after this, 3 English Gentlemen hearing what had passed, and how that an Englishman who was mad was committed to the Hospital of mad men: The Genttlemen went immediately to the Hospital to inquire the truth of the matter, when they came the Keeper very courteously informed them of the whole business, brought them to the sight of Stubbs; who was locked up in a small Cell by himself alone, and an iron Chain about his Leg, and his head shaved, (for it is the custom here to shave all mad people.) When the Gentlemen came in they found him sitting in a melancholy sullen postuee: he would not so much as look up or speak one word to them for the space of above an hour and half, notwithstanding they spoke very kindly to him, and asked him concerning his condition, and the causes of his distemper, and promised him all the assistance & kindness that lay in their power. At last this sullen Spirit was overcome, and he began to enter into a long discourse of the spirit within him, and that God had sent him and his 3 Friends to break in pieces the great Leviathan of Rome. Now the Gentlemen quickly perceived his Spirit, and plainly discovered him to be no madman but a Quaker. They asked him concerning his other Friends where they were? And withal promised to do their utmost for his releasement, and so giving the Keeper some Money to be kind to their Countryman they bid him farewel. At Evening they went to the Inn to vifit the other 3 Quakers, and had much discourse with them, endeavouring to persuade them to desist from this so hazardous and fruitless an enterprise, and speedily to return to their own Country, demonstrating the great dangers and inconveniences they would thrust themselves upon if they did still persist or any farther prosecute this fond and ridiculous undertaking; and so they parted. The next day they addressed to the Archbishop, who was pleased to entertain them with much civility and respect. They returned humble thanks to his Grace for his great care of their Countryman, in sending him to such a place where he was so well accommodated in all thing in order to his cure, and withal represented to his Grace his condition, quality and Religion; and how that he was not a madman but one of those Sectarians which in England are called Fanatics and Quakers. And withal informed the Archbishop and Canons how that party do desire to appear different from all others in their manner of speech, their apparel, and manners. And also humbly petitioned his Grace for a releasement, promising within a day or two to dispatch them out of the Town; The Arch-Bishop-readily condescended to all their demands, and presently gave order that Stubbs should be set at liberty, which was accordingly performed. And the day following they all 4 left the Town, and hasted their Journey to Italy.  
When they came to Milano in Italy, they had another enthusiastical impulse of Spirit. And now John Watson, Nathaniel Golden and Rowland Jenkins, who hitherto had been silent, or (as they expressed it themselves) humbly waiting at the Feet of Jesus, who had now given them command to begin to preach the Everlasting Gospel to the Italians. Here Stubbs accompanied with his 3 friends did now (as formerly at Lions in France) upon Sunday enter the Domo or Cathedral of the City, and made a great and public disturbance when they were in the height of their solemnities. Watson began to make a discourse in Italian, but was presently seized and carried forth, and had before a Magistrate, who forthwith committed them all 4 to Prison, but withal gave order they should be civilly used and lack for nothing until further order, About 4 or 5 days after, they were commanded to appear before the Governor of Milan himself who was resolved to have a full account of the matter, The Governor when he saw their uncivil behaviour, their sullen looks, and heard their wild discourses, he presently concluded them madmen, and gave order to have them confined and carefully looked after, and also appointed 2 Physicians to visit them and to do their utmost for their recovery. The Physicians presently made a visit to the Hospital and had a long discourse with Watson (who spoke Italian well) And then returned to the Governor to give him their sentiment of the business, they told his Excellence that they were mad, as did evidently appear to them by their very countenance and manner of discourse: and that one of them (meaning Stubbs) had a manifest and signal token of his distemper, viz. his head was shaved according to the usual practice of all Physicians in the World, who always use to shave madmen thereby to cool the brain, and for the more comodious applying fomentations and other proper Remedies for the Head, the seat and subject of the distemper. They added also that they did verily believe they were Dutchmen who had made an escape from their Keepers. The Governor was well satisfied with this account the Physicians gave of the Quakers, and accordingly ordered them to take care of them, and let no means be wanting, that might be used for their recovery, and that they should be used with all tenderness imaginable. The 2 Doctors return to the Pazzi or madmen, and cause them to be shaved and purged, and the next day they bleed them all in the arms & feet; & every day twice a day cause their heads to be bathed with cold water, and their whole bodies also in a pond made for that use only. Here the poor Quakers went through a rigorous course of Physic: for in a month's time they were let blood about 17 or 18 several times, besides frequent and violent purge. Golden a fortnight after he had been thus confined, forbore eating, whether it was out of a sullen dogged humour, or out of an enthusiasm or expectation of new Revelations, I cannot certainly affirm, but by his wilful and contumacious abstinence he gave up the Ghost and died after he had been a month thus shut up. The other 3 by bleeding and purging were brought very low, the Physicians now were much troubled & disheartened, and did altogether despair of their recovery, and did signify as much to the Governor withal telling his Excellence that they supposed it was some Religious melancholy that these men were afflicted with, & that it was insuperable & not to be overcome by any Art, & so desired the Governor to release them, which was accordingly performed. After they had regained their liberty, they continued some days in the Town, and would frequently make speeches in the Churches, and exhort the people to embrace their Doctrine and follow the Light which was within them. The Italians after their enlargement were very civil to them, and if at any time they caused any disturbance in the Church, the Officers would gently force them out, without using any manner of rigour or severity to them. For the whole City looked upon them as 3 distracted men, so whatsoever they said or did was looked upon, as proceeding from the Distemper of their brain, and civilly connived at and passed over without any notice.  
Towards the beginning of June they left Milano and set forward for Rome. For their chief design was to go thither, to convert the great Leviathan (as they usually called the Pope) and to reform Babylon. I heard not of any considerable action in their Journey from Milan to Rome; but you may imagine by their bald Sculls and morose carriage what thoughts the people had of them, for now wheresoever they came the people looked upon them as men distracted and mad: some were afraid of them, others laughed at and derided them, no body at all regarded any thing they said,  
June the 18 they came to Rome the place they so much desired to see, upon the Sunday following they according to their old Custom entered a little Church called San Jacomo Scozza Cavaelli, where Watson made a fierce and zealous discourse against the Babilonish Idolatry of that City, and said that the Pope who was the Man of Sin and the great Leviathan was now to be crushed in pieces, and God had sent them from the utmost parts of the Earth to convert that City, and to confound the Pope and all his Adherents, and that now all mankind was to expect and seek for the holy Anointing, for they were all to be taught of God, and not any longer to follow Monks and Priests, who were all false Prophets, and that now God would pour out the full Vials of his wrath and fierce indignation upon them, and bring them all to utter ruin shame and confusion. I know the Reader will admire to hear that the Romans were so patiented, and let them run on so long in these discourses, and not cause them to be carried out of the Church and punished for this disturbance. But the reason of this connivance was not for want of zeal, but because the Church and Congregation was very small, so that the people were affrighted and all kept at a good distance, for by their very looks and manner of discourse the people generally concluded them 3 Bedlams, and were greatly afraid of them, until at last one who had more courage and resolution than the rest, went and fetched some Officers and put them into the inquisition os Heretics. But those of the inquisition soon rid their hands of them, and the same day towards Evening set them at liberty, saying that it was their business only to take notice of Heretics and not of madmen. The next day which was the great solemnity of St, John Baptist, they caused the same disturbance in the great Domo, that famous and renowned Church of St, Peter, but here they were quickly carried out, but no other severity used, because all the world now looked upon them as madmen,  
I am weary of relating these frantic attempts and discourses which they made in several of the Churches of Rome, and so shall pass by a great many of them in silence, and come to their attempts upon the Pope himself. They went to the English College and desired the Govemours assistance to bring them to the presence of the Pope. The Governor refused to meddle in that matter, alleging the dangerous consequents of it, that it would not only bring particular ruin to themselves, but would also be a shame and reproach to the English Nation itself: Wherefore he earnestly prssed and urged them to desist from that dangerous attempt, and return home. Hereupon the Quakers fell in a great passion, and told him that he savoured not the things of God, but was yet wholly carnal, and that he was like Herod, and with him went about as much as in him lay to murder the child Jesus, and to hinder the people's conversion from Idolatry, and embracing the everlasting Gospel, and so in great discontent they left him.  

The conference of Cardinal Barbarini with the English Quakers, and how he brought them before the Pope.  
These poor Quakers had not been a month in Rome but the whole City-took great notice of them; and generally condoled their condition, as being distracted and far from their own Country, July 6 Cardinal Barbarini, hearing much of these men's frantic actions, was very desirous out of curiosity to see them, and to discourse with them, hereupon he caused them to be before him, and was pleased with much patience to discourse an hour with them; and then civilly dismissed them, and sent then to their Lodgings. About two days after he made report to the Cardinal Nephew and to the Pope himself of what had happened, and of the strange and unparelleld enthusiasms of these 3 English Pazzi (for so he always termed them) and how they had a great desire to have some conference with his Holiness; and that they affirmed that God had sent them to deliver some secret Revelations to him. The Pope at first was a little surprised with the novelty and strangeness of he thing, and gave order to have them privately brought before him and these 2 Cardinals. When they were admitted into the presence, Watson saluted the Pope with this address. Art thou that Man of Sin, that Antichrist and great Leviathan, Verily God hath raised us up from the utmost parts of the earth to preach the everlasting Gospel to thee, and to conver thee from thy Idolatry, Errors and sinful ways, unto the true way and to the Light, etc. The Pope was much amazed at this strange confidence and prodigious boldness, and did really believe that the common report had not at all belied them, but that they were very much distempered in their minds, and distracted, and gave a strict command that none should offer any violence to them; but withal privately appointed some of the English College to persuade them to return home, or else to take charge of them in their College, and not let them thus run about the City, disturbing the people. The business was effected according to the Pope's desire, for about the end of July seeing how unsuccesful their endeavours had been they resolved to leave that Babylonian City, and go preach the Gospel to the Turks and Mahometans. In order thereunto they took Shipping for Co●stantinople, where after two months tossing upon a dangerous and tempestuous Sea they at length safely arrived.  
They had not been above a fortnight in that great City, but they went into the Mahometans Mosco's and Temples, and caused great tumult among the People. For this offence t●ey were condemned to be bastinadoed, i. e, to receive 300 blows upon the sols of their Feet, which was accordingly executed with the extremity of rigour and cruelty, so that in few days the putrified flesh came off from the bones, which was a miserable spectacle to behold, But this spirit of Fanaeticism had so transported and infatuated them, that they got wooden crutches, and once more went to their prophance Mosco's, and caused a much greater disturbance than before. Hereupon the Turks were exceedingly incensed, and presently had them before the Mufti himself, who forthwith in a great fury and rage passed this cruel sentence upon them, viz. That they were to have their hands chopped off, their tongues cut out, their eyes bored out, and each man to have a sharp wooden stake run in at his Fundament and so quite through his body, all which was accordingly put in execution. And so these poor wretches after all their sufferings ended their miserable Life, This rashness of these Quakers had like to drew a great storm upon all the English Merchants who were in great danger of having their Estates and Goods seized by the Janissaries, but that the English Ambassador nobly and notably bestirred himself, and gave the Vizier Bassa a full and satisfactory account of the whole matter.   

Conclusion.  
Reader, in this short account of these men's actions, I have not studied to set it out with eloquence and ornament, but I have wholly and only aimed at truth, resolving to give you a true and impartial Narrative of the whole business. I was well acquairted with these Men in Italy, and had often conference with them. And of some things I was informed by others. As concerning their actions and crew death in Turkey I received a full account by Letter when I was at Venice from two of my Friends and faithful correspondents resident in Constantinople, who were eye-witnesses of their cruel and most barbarous deaths. Whose Letters I have still by me, and am willing and ready at any time to exhibit them to the view and perusal of any who shall desire a more full account of this matter.   
FINIS.