* an apostate  To the Most Powerful in Authority, to unloose the Bonds of Cruelty and Oppression of an Aged Industrious Person, without Work or Friends.  
THomas Boyce of Lambeth, formerly of Horslydown, a Hearer of Quakers; now, and long since of the Church of England, a Sufferer for Innocency and Truth; and since his hard Case has not been unknown to both King and Kingdom, Authority having been pleased to take notice of it, and Publicly cleared his Innocency under the Hands of 12 Credible Witnesses, besides Sir Richard Ingoldesby, who have Certified my Honesty and Faithfulness to the Great Trust reposed in me by his Father Sir Richard, and his Lady Mother, while I, in former days, was many years Steward to them. But most unfortunately falling since under the English Inquisition of the Violent Bloody Quakers, who, by some of their Chief Leaders, unprovok'd, and Barbarous Assaults, like so many Wolves, tore, and devoured him, and his Substance, in Three and thirty Weeks time, which he had been Labouring for all his Days, and sorely wounded him in his Body, Mind and Reputation, to the endangering his Life, themselves have since Confessed he was amist; as also his Neighbours aforesaid have Certified he was in a weak Distracted Condition at that time, his Speech taken from him, and the Use of his Hands; Five Weeks together, had no Sustenance, only drank fair Water, and Six Weeks and three days kept from his wont Course of Nature, otherwise than by Urine. And all the while uncapable of Work, notwithstanding the Quakers gave out, he was able, and might Work, and have spoke too, all the while, if he had list. And for his refusing to Consent to their Lies, after he had his Speech restored to him by his Maker, and was capable to Work, the Quakers, instead of restoring, what they had most falsely taken, and caused to be taken from him, that is to say, his Trade, Credit, and Livelihood, fell a Cursing him and his Wife and Children, and threatened him with Plagues and Vengeance that should come upon him, and be worse than ever he was. Insomuch, that for above these Twenty years last passed, he has been reduced to the Laborious Calling only of a Tailor, and has not had Work sufficient, nor the value thereof, taking the whole time, for one pair of hands, to feed and maintain four Mouths the greatest part of it. What hardships he has undergone in seeking for Work, but much more by their often Upbraiding him with their Bounty and Charity, so cold, are too long and sad to trouble the Reader: However he is able to make it plainly appear, if he might be permitted, that he is a Sufferer at this time above 500 l. in his very Trade and Livelihood of his Family, besides his Credit, and a Child's part of an Estate of about 600 l. which was left him by his Parents and near Relations at Buckingham, which some of the former Leven of the Quakers possessed themselves of, part of it without Administering, and other some, of the same Fry, without giving any Account, have, in the like manner, lately, by their Purses, and Practices of Lying, got the Remainder. So that the Quakers among them have Swallowed up both my substance of Bread, and not allowed me wherewith to Work for Money. And 'tis very hard to be in Age, and in Want, having hands given Man to Labour, and a Tongue to Ask wherewith, and not permitted, without he will Belly the Giver of them, or confess himself to be Lunatic, or Mad, and Lazy. The Reverend Dean G. H. hath lately 
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THese are to Certify, That Thomas Boyce of the Parish of Lambeth, Taylor; formerly of the Sect of Quakers, and now, and long since of the Church of England, is an Honest Laborious poor Man, and worthy, as I think, of Protection and Relief,  
George Hooper, Rector of Lambeth. Nou. 7. 1694.    Certified, under his Hand, That the said Tho. Boyce is an honest Laborious poor Man, and worthy, as he thinks, of Protection and Relief. And seeing the Power of the Most High hath shown a Wonder by this your Complainant, so as to raise him even from the Grave; He humbly desires your Honours, to whom these are chiefly Intended, would be pleased to consider to what end, and in the mean time the Grass grows, that my poor Sickly Children, may no longer suffer Want, for their Father's Transgression, that is to say, for refusing to deny Truth, and his unwillingness of Mind to Starve for want of Work.  
Thomas Boyce, an Inhabitant of this Parish about 22 Years, and 12 Years before at Horsly-down aforesaid. March 25th, 1697.