The First New Persecution; OR, A TRUE NARRATIVE OF THE Cruel usage of two Christians, by the present Mayor of CAMBRIDGE. As it was certified from thence by an Eminent Hand.  
LONDON, Printed for G. Calvert; 1654.   

The first New Persecution: OR, A true Narrative OF THE Cruel usage of two Christians by the present Mayor of Cambridge: As it was certified from thence by an Eminent Hand.  
ON Friday, December 23. came into Cambridge, two Northern Women, the one of them about 50. the other about 30. years old, who went to Sidney-Sessex-Colledg in Cambridg, and fell into discourse with some Scholars there, about God and Christ; the Scholars asked them how many Gods there were? The women answered, but one God; and told them, they had many that they made Gods of: at which the Scholars laughed and scoffed them; the women told the Scholars they were Antichrists, and that their College was a Cage of unclean Birds, and the Synagogue of Satan. Hereupon complaint was made to Mr. William Pickering Mayor of Cambridg, that two women were preaching; who immediately sent for them by a Constable; and when they were before him, he demanded of them, whence they came, and where they lay the last night? They answered him, they were strangers, and knew not the name of the place; but paid for what they called for, and came away. The Mayor asked them what was their names? they answered, their names were written in the book of life. Again he asked them, What was their husband's names? they answered, they had no husband but Jesus Christ, and he sent them. Upon this the Mayor was in a great rage, and thrust them to the door of his house, and said they were whores, and made a Warrant to the Constable to whip them at the Market-Crosse until the blood came. And when the poor women heard that, they fell down on their knees, and desired the Lord to forgive him, for he knew not what he did. And the Mayor spoke to the Constable, and bade him see them whipped till the blood ran down their bodies, and sent three of his Sergeants to see it done to the purpose; and 'twas done accordingly; but by what Law no man knows; for they neither did beg or steal.  
So they were led away to the Market-Cross, crying, The Lord strengthen our faith, the Lord strengthen our faith, etc. And when the Executioner came, he commanded them to put off their ; they said, they would not, they were there; if he had any thing to do to them, they bade him do it, for they would not: so immediately he stripped first one all naked to the waste, and then the other, and put their arms into the Whipping Post, and executed the Mayor's Warrant on them, in as fierce and cruel a manner as could be, that so their bodies were cut, and slashed, and torn, as never were the bodies of any rogues, or thiefs, or whores, seen to be, as those poor Christians were; who took their punishment so cheerfully, that they never whinched for it, nor was their pain seen by any change of their countenance, as if there had not been any thing done to them; and all the while they were in their punishment, they sang and rejoiced, saying, the Lord be blessed, the Lord be praised, who hath thus strengthened and honoured us to suffer for his name sake. And when all was done, they said to the Executioner, If you think you have not done enough, we are here ready to suffer more for our Saviour Christ: and then they fell down on their knees, and prayed God to forgive them, for they knew not what they had done. So being led back into the Town towards the Castle end, they exhorted all people to fear God, and not to care for men, telling the people, this was but the beginning of the sufferings of God's people. So they were thrust out of the Town, no man so much as giving them a cup of cold water, that the Scripture might be fulfilled in the 129 Psalms, The plowers ploughed upon my back, and made long furrows.  

A Postcript.  
THese are to give notice to all men, That none of the Justices of the Town had any hand in this barbarous and unlawful act, saving Mr. William Pickering Mayor; and I hope, the righteous Lord will cut the cords of the wicked, and send deliverance to his people, and make his enemies known, and make them like the grass on the housetop; and as these poor people sang, so do I, Blessed and praised be the Lord who hath made the heavens and earth, and created strength and power in weakness, to him be glory evermore, Amen.   
FINIS.