THE Lambs Defence AGAINST lies.  
AND A True Testimony given concerning the Sufferings and Death OF James parnel.  
And the ground thereof.  
By such hands as were eye-witnesses, and have subscribed their Names thereto.  
Set forth for no other end, but to clear the Innocent from the Back-biters, and to undeceive the simplo, least they bring guilt upon themselves by joining with bloody men, and so partake of their Plagues.  
Also a touch of some few of the unmeasurable sufferings of this present Age, that all that will see may see, and understand, though evil men grow worse and worse.  
Set forth from those people scorned and persecuted under the name of QUAKERS,  
London, Printed for Giles Calvert at the West end of Pauls. 165●.   

THE Lambs Defence AGAINST lies. And a True Testimony given concerning the Sufferings and death of James parnel, and the ground thereof.  
FORASMUCH as our dear Brother James parnel, hath finished his Testimony with joy, and fought the fight of faith, against that murderous Spirit which is in the Children of this world, who are born and live after the flesh, hath ever hated and persecuted him that is born after the Spirit; and now not a little rages against the vessells where the Lamb is, and his Testimony brought forth against the Worlds wickedness. And being in all Ages limited no further to touch then the outward body or estate, which is so far short of satisfying his Envy( who strikes at the soul, and eternal well-being of all Creatures) that when the father of life suffers him to  shed the blood of his Sons and Daughters at any time, he is much tormented that he can go no further, being the same that is spoken of, Rev. 11. who after he had slain the Witness●s when they have finished their Testimony unto death, doth not suffer their their bodies to be put ingraves, but in the streets of spiritual sodom and egypt they must lye, till they that dwell on the Earth have rejoiced, and made merry over them which tormented them that dwell on the earth, and sent their gifts one to another, that they may fill up the measure to the utmost.  
The same being now seen in this Generation, who have framed their lies fit to please that vain wicked spirit, & sand them abroad one to another throughout the Nations in Books and licenced ballads, singing and making merry over innocent blood, that the remembrance of it may be kept in your streets, least it should be butted and forgotten of the Lord, and go unpunished; who are therefore given up to blindness and hardness of heart, so as to rejoice in provoking the Lord to arise up in revenge, and so to bring the wickedness of the wicked upon his own head; which that all might escape, is the desire of all that know the terrors of the Lord, against such who thus provoke him.  
Therefore least any who have some simplicity in them, and yet know not the truth, should be lead away with the error of the wicked, to speak the same things against the innocent, and so become guilty with them that are guilty, by consenting to the sufferings of the just, being tempted thereto by fals reports touching James parnel, as though he did wilfully destroy himself, either by eating too much, as some would accuse him, or by wilful fasting, as others would accuse him; therefore is these few things touching his Imprisonment, and unchristian usage therein, published, and many particulars more might be added. Also the manner of his death testified by those who was eye-witnesses, and whose hearts was affencted therewith.  
First as touching the cause of his suffererings in this his last Imprisonment unto death, which was the fruits of a Fast kept at great Goggashall against Error( as they said) the 12 day of the fifth Month, 1655. where he spoken some words when the Priests had done speaking; and when he was gone out of the high place, one followed him called Justice Wakering, and him on the back, and said he Arrested him and so by the means of divers independent Priests and others, he was committed to this Prison at Colchester as you may more at large see in a book entitled, The fruits of a Fast appointed by the Churches gathered, &c. where your may red some of their Names, and their unjust proceedings against him. And in that Prison was he kept close up, and his friends and acquaintance denied to come at him; then at the Assizes he was carried to Chemsford, about 18 miles through the Country, as a sport or gazing-stock, locked on a Chain with five accused for felony and murder, and he with other three remained on the Chain day and night. But when he appeared at the Bar, he was taken off the Chain, onely had Irons on his hands, where he appeared before Judge Hill, so called the first time; but being some cried out against this cruelty, & what sh●me it would be to let the Irons be seen on him, the next day they took them off▪ and he appeared without, where the Priest and Justices was his Accusers; and the Judge gathered what he could out of what they said, to make what he could against the prisoner to the Jury, and urged them to find him guilty, least it fell on their own heads, as you may further red in the Book fore-mentioned. And when he would have spoken truth for himself, to inform the Jury, the Judge would not permit him thereto. So the Judge fined him about twice twenty Marks, or forty pounds and said the Lord Protector had charged him to see to punish such persons as should contemn either Magistracy or Ministry. So he committed him close Prisoner till payment, and gave the Jaylor charge to let no giddy-headed people come at him; so his friends, and those who would have done him good, was called giddy-head●d people, and so kept out; but such as would abuse him by scorning, or beating, such they let in, and set them on. And the jailers wife would set her man to beat him, who threatened to knock him down, and make him shake his heels, yea the jailers wife did beat him divers times, and swore she would have his blood, or he should have hers; to which he answered, Woman, I will not have thine. And this she hath been heard to swear divers times. And sometimes they would stop any from bringing him victuals, and set the Prisoners to take his victuals from him; and when he would have had a Trundle-bed to have kept him off the stones, they would not suffer friends to bring him one, but forced him to lie on the stones, which sometimes would run down with water, in a wet season; and when he was in a Room for which he paid 4. d. a night, he was threatened if he did but walk too & fro in it, by the jailers wife, then they put him in a hole in the wall very high, where the Ladder was too short by about six foot; and when friends would have given him a cord, and a basket to have taken up his victuals, he was denied thereof, and could not be suffered to have it, though it was much desired, but he must either come up and down by that Rope, or else famish in the hole, which he did along time, before God suffered them to see their desires, in which time much means was used about it, but their wills was unalterably set in cruelty towards him: But after long suffering in this hole, where there was nought but misery as to the outward man, being no hole either for air or smoke, being much benumbed in the naturals, as he was climbing up the Ladder with his victuals in one hand, and coming to the top of the Ladder catching at the Rope with the other hand, missed the Rope, and fell a very great height upon stones, by which fall he was exceedingly wounded in the head and arms, and his body much bruised, and taken up for dead, but did recover again at that time; then they put him in a low hole called the Oven, and much like an Oven, and some have said who have been in it, that they have seen a Bakers Oven much bigger, except for the height of the roof, without the least aire-hole, or window for smoke or air; nor would they suffer him to have a little Charcoale brought in by friends, to prevent the noisome smoke; nor would they suffe● him after he was a little recovered, to take a little air upon the Castle wall, which was but once desired by the Prisoner, feeling himself spent for want of breath; all which he bore with much patience, and still kept his suffering much from friends there, seeing they was much sorrowful to see it; yea others who were no friends were wounded at the sight of his usage in many other particulars, which we forbear here to mention.  
And divers came to see him, who heard of his usage from far, and not being friends, had liberty to see him, who was astonished at his usage, and some of them would say, If this be the usage of the Protectors prisoners, it were better to be any bodies prisoner then his; as Justice Barringtons daughter said, who see their cruelty against him. And many who came to see him was moved with pitty towards the Creature, for his sufferings was great. And some of note said, that if the Fine had but been 10 pounds, they would paid it to the Protector themselves, that he might have been freed from his sufferings; and many did go to the Justices and to the Judges that came that Circuit, about him, but could get no relief from any of them, as you may further understand by these two letters following, one from Will: Talcott, the other from Tho: Shortland( besides divers others might be mentioned) which are as followeth.  
Will: Talcott's Letter.  
I Hearing that James parnel had received a hurt by a fall, went to see him, and found friends dressing his wounds, which were great and the Creature at that time was sick; and seeing him in this condition, I was moved to call Edw: Grant, and we together went to one called Justice Barrington, and I said unto him, That James parnel carrying up provision into the hole of the Wall where they had placed him, he being got above the Ladder, and the hole yet being about six foot higher, onely having the help of a piece of a Rope made fast above & loose below, he going up thinking to handle the Rope, mist it, and so wanting his stay, fell down, and that he was dangerously wounded, and at that time very sick; and that I hearing that a fine of 40. l. was charged upon him, I was come to him to offer my bond of forty pounds for his security, that James parnel might have liberty to come to my house till such time as he was recovered of his wounds and sickness, and that then I should return him to the prison and that if he dyed, I should return his Corp●. He said he could not do it. I asked him if he d●d not judge me responsible; and he said he did. I said to him that he had power to act for the Protector, and that my Bond being given to him, was as good security as James Parnells body; he said he would do it if he could, and wished us to go to one called Justice Wakering, who he said committed him, and offer him a hundred pounds Bond, and 'tis like he would do it. I said to him I was as free to give him a hundred pounds Bond as forty, and that he was impowred by Commission alike with the other; and he said the other laid him in, and he would not meddle with it.  
Witnesses hereof, Will. Talcott. Ed. Grant.  
A Copy of Tho. Shortland's Letter delivered to Judge ask, as he came off the Bench.  
TO all you who are set in the seat to do Justice for the punishment of evil doers, and for the praise of them that do well; Ease the oppressed, and set the Redeemed of the Lord free, without money, or without price, for neither silver nor gold nor precious Pearls set free the Redeemed of God; therefore knowing these things by the Spirit of God, we do deny that any silver or gold, or any such thing shall be paid for our friends freedom. James parnel servant of God hath been much oppressed by the close Imprisonment & envy of the Jaylor, in removing him from place to place, and putting him into a hole in the Wall where he did endure much hardship by reason of the closeness of the place, with smokes and stinks, for there is no vent for the smoke and air, but what passeth out of the door; and there being no way to it but by climbing up a Ladder, which Ladder not being long enough to reach up to the room, but he must up by a Rope and the Jaylor would not suffer the said James parnel to have a basket with a cord to draw up his victuals; and as the said James was carrying up his victuals with the one hand, and stayed himself on the Ladder with the other hand, and reaching to catch hold of a Rope, and missing his hold, fell down, and much hurt received, and now is much oppressed by the closeness of the Room and evil favours that are in it, for want of air, which is much prejud●ce to the life of the Creature.  
So as Christ hath commanded me, so far have I freedom in my spirit & body to offer up my body to be Imprisoned for my friends liberty, if liberty may be granted for it. And as you own yourselves Christians, that you would mind Pauls condition, who being committed a Prisoner found much freedom in his bonds, & was suffered to dwell by himself in his own hired house with a soldier that kept him; although it was confessed that Paul had don nothing worthy of death, or of bonds, & consider James parnel, and that you will grant him the same liberty the Romans did to Paul before mentioned; or accept of some to lye in Prison body for body to answer. So I remain a friend to the household of faith, who am known to the World by the name of  
Tho. Shortland.  
THe substance of the Answer of this Letter, was, That he was committed by a Judge of Assize, and was the L●rd Protectors Prisoner, and none else could set him free; and if the Fine was not paid, he might stay there these ten year. And then some friends  told the Judge of his hard usage, and what a small thing it was he was committed for, namely, for speaking to a Priest when he had done. His Answer was, He cared not two pence for our Religion, give him respect to man. Then it was moved that he might have liberty to walk in the yard; but it was said, He should not have so much liberty as to walk out to the Castle door, which was as strictly executed by the Jaylor, for James parnel himself  told Gerard Roberts, That the door being open, he did but walk forth into a little close stinking yard before the door, and the Jaylor came in great rage and locked up the door of the hole where he lay, and shut him out in that yard all night, being in the coldest of all the Winter. Thus they waited their opportunities for mischief to him-ward, whereby to destroy him, as now they take all opportunities to slander him being dead, for that envious bloody spirit is never satisfied with mischief against the innocent.  
Then seeing all this took no effect, further then to harden them to increase their rage, to add to his sufferings, and seeing there was no way to satisfy but his blood, and seeing his life could not in all likelihood to be continued long in that case, there was no little labour and means used to lay it before the Highest Authority, yea more concerning that man( that his life might have been saved, & they kept from innocent blood) then ever was concerning any( if not all) that ever were imprisoned these late years of our friends, declaring unto them his wounding, his weakness, and much of the evil usage, and this is not unknown to some who are in Authority, who was most like to have helped in such a case, but could not be believed till he was dead, having their information to the contrary from such as was his enemies and prosecutors, and some who acted the●e things upon him, who then used all their wits to cover his sufferings from being known, and now are no less subtle in seeking to clear themselves before men of his blood, & would cast itself upon himself, notwithstanding all this means was used both by him and friends, to have prevented it, even whilst there was any hope of life.  
Here is also another Letter, which may show some few of their abuses when he was newly come from the Assizes, written by his own hand, to a friend, which is as followeth.  
FIrst, The day I came in from the Assize, there was a friend or two with me in the jailers house, and the jailers Wife sent her man to call me from them, and to put me into a yard, and would not suffer my friends to come at me; and one friend brought me water, and they would not suffer her to come to me, but made her carry it back again, and at night they locked me up into a hole with a condemned man( onely lay for a pardon) and the same day a friend desired the jailers Wife that she would let her come and speak with me, the jailers Wife answered her, If she intended to be gotten with Child, she might come to me, and such like speeches she gave to such as come to me, calling them Whores and Rogues Witches and Bastards, and the Devils Dish-washers, and that they skipped out of hell when the Devil was asleep, and much more of the like unchristianlike speeches, which is too tedious to relate; & very seldom that they would suffer any of my friends to come at me, though they came far, and they might buy their liberty that did; yea the Turnkey demanded a shilling of a friend to let her come to me, as knowing that they d●d not respect their moneys, so they might have the liberty to visit me, and therefore they made a prey upon them. And several they have turned away, because they would not give them so much as they would have to satisfy their corrupt wills; and also when they did suffer any to come in, she would thus abuse them with reproachful terms, saving she would not have her house common, saying she had somewhat else to do then to wait upon them, when as her house is common to any sort of people else, were they never so vile and base.  
And there was one Thomas Creek of great Coggashall come to visit me, & they would not suffer him to come to the speech of me, but through the hole of a door; and as he was speaking with me, the jailers m●n set a prisoner to pin a rag behind upon his clothes, and but that I espied it, he had gone away in that manner; and the jailers Wife see this, but winked at it: And when it was taken off, the jailers man demanded moneys of him for the letting of him in, & the man being unwilling to give him any, because they thus abused him, he would not let him go out, but stopped him, while the prisoner was about pinning on t e rag again, but I espied them, and bid the man beware of them. Then he came and sate him down in the house, and when they saw they could not work their wills upon him, they let him go. And thus they make a prey upon the innocent; and when they do let any come to me, they would not let them stay but very little, and the jailers wife would threaten to pull them down the stairs, and set on the prisoners to fetch them down, with many reproachful speeches as aforesaid, though they did not give her the least occasion.  
There came several of my friends and former acquaintance, nigh forty miles to see me, and when they came, the Jaylor would not let them in; so they stayed at the door, wa●ting at the door to see me, and the jailers wife threw down piss and water upon their cloths, out of a Chamber window, which did much abuse and stain them, and would not let them come in neither. And one friend came from Cambridge to have spoken to me, and they would not let him come to the speech of me, but he was fain to go back without speaking to me: And another friend came from my friends at London, to have spoken to me, and they would not suffer him, but he was fain to go back without speaking to me; and several the like p●ss●ges and abuses have I suffered. And the jailers wife set others to steal away my victuals, so that the prisoners thereby took advantage to do the same; so that at last they broken open the l●ck of my box, to steal away what was in it, not for any want, but from the wickedness of their hearts. Then one that was suspected, being taxed with it, said that the Jailors Wife was the first inventor of the stealing of my victuals. It is not the victuals that I matter, but their unjust and false actings towards me. And when I have asked them if they would not allow me the liberty that they allowed to murderers the jailers wife said I was worse then a murderer, & so they looked upon me. And there was a Malignant Priest brought hither that was put out by the State, and his own neighbour that was here with him, confessed that he was a very drunken profane man, and was one of the hundred scandalous Ministers the Nation had put down, and this Priest the Jaylor had set up to teach, & sent for people of the Town to come and hear him, and put me out of my Chamber that the Priest might teach there upon the first days of the week; 
This was before he was put into either of the Hol●s.  and the Jaylor  told me that if I spoken against the Priest, he would put me into the common Goal. And the jailers wife would have set on her man to have smote me, and she said she would bear him out in it; and upon that the fellow having the great Keys in his ha●d, said he would make me shake my heels, but he had no power at that time to smite me: and the jailers wife swore she would have my blood several times, and  told my friends so, and that she would mark my face, and the like, calling me Witch, and Rogue, shake, and rak hell, & the like; and because I did reprove her for her wickedness, the Jaylor hath given order that none shall come at me upon any occasion, but onely one or two that brings my food.  
Now if here I be used like a prisoner, you that are in Authority, who knows the Laws and Ordinances of the Nation, may juge; for here I am committed to be kept as a prisoner, though I am the Lords freeman, and do know I am assuredly, that he will judge and revenge my cause upon my Adversaries; yet this is to clear my conscience unto you, who under him are set to Rule, that you may not be ignorant of these things; then to be sure if you let Justice & Equity fall, and wink at the oppression & injustice, then to be sure the judgments shall he at your doors, at your hands shal the blood of the innocent be required. And so I rest with my confidence in him who will not leave me nor forsake me, for whose sake I now suffer bonds the time of his good will and pleasure. Known to the world by the name  
From Colchester-Castle. 1655. James parnel.  
This Letter was written soon after he came from the Assizes, since which time he hath been used worse and worse, & about the time called Christmas, he was put into the close hole, and many devices was daily hatched against him, and friends that came to see him, to abuse them withall, and make a prey upon them, they made an Order amongst them, and stuck it up on the door, That every one that came to see him should spend four pence in Beer; but friends not being free to serve that wicked deceit( though they weighed not the money) the jailers wife run at them with a knife, and would have taken their Hats for it. And now whereas they would father their lies upon Thomas Shortland in their Books and ballads, both concerning the manner of his death, and the Evidence given to the Jury, the truth whereof you may understand by a Letter under Thomas Shortlands hand, which is as followeth.  
Dear Friend,  
IN Answer to thine, is this, James parnel being dead, the Coroner sent an Officer for me, and one Anne Langley, a friend, who both of us watched with him that night that he departed; and coming to him, he said, That it was usual when any dyed in prison, to have a Jury go on them, and James being dead, and he hearing we two watched with him, he sent for us to hear what we could say concerning his death, whether he dyed on his faire death or whether he were guilty of his own death: And I answered, That there could no guilt be found in his death. He then asked how long he did fast: And I  told him ten days; he asked if he took nothing in those ten days; and I  told him nothing that I knew of, but a little water. He asked me what words he did speak in that time; I  told him that when I asked James whether he would eat, he  told me that he had no need▪ neither did he feel any hunger; and I  told the Coroner that I often asked him, and he  told me that when he needed he would call for something▪ and bid me take that for an answer. Then the Coroner asked whether he were sick in the time of his fasting; and I  told him that he said he was not sick, neither felt or ailed any thing in his body. And the Coroner then asked if he lay by it in that time, and I  told him that he rose, and s●te up, and never heard him complain at all. He asked me what words he spake in the time of his fasting; and I answered that he was silent, and spake very little, onely bid friends yield him up, for he must depart from them, which words he used often to friends, bidding them not to mourn over him for he must go. Further he inquired whether he received not hurt from his fall formerly out of the high hole of the wall, which might occasion his death; and I answered, that he was cured of that. He asked whether he had his sences, & how he behaved himself lateward toward h●s departure; I answered, that he had his senses to the last, and that he spake sensibly, and to as good understanding as he used to do. He then inquired what words he spoken: To which Anne Langley answered that she heard him say, Here I die innocently, & she said that she had been at the departing of many, but never was where was such sweet departing; & at his departing his last words were, Now I must go, and turned his head to me & said, Thomas this death I must die & further said, O Thomas I have seen great things & bad me that I should not hold him, but let him go, and said it over again, will you not hold me? and then said Anne, dear heart we will not hold thee; and said, Now I go, and st●etched out himself, and fell into a sweet sleep, and slept about an hour( as he often said, that one hours sleep would cure him of all) and so drew breath no more.  
In Answer to the Printed Paper.  
I Shewed it to the fore-man of the Jury, whose name is judas tailor, and as to those words ( And after that time his friends several times offered him food, and he could not get it down) he said fie, fie, he would not own them, they might have been ashamed to put them in. And as to that ( but that he fasted voluntarily) they deny it, and say they heard no such word spoken. The Coroner did not at all sand for my wife, neither did she give in evidence, but was at the Castle when the Jury was thereto view the body, where she said to the Jury( as themselves say) the same words that Anne & I spoken to the Coroner, so that some of the Jury said, that they were all as one. I being at the Hall, stayed there, and the friend Langley with me, until the Jury came in with their Verdict, & the fore-man said that we find this same James parnel by wilfulness abstaining from food ten days, and then eating up a quart of milk thick crumb'd with white bread, was the cause of his death. I being present answered, that his will was denied in what he did, as for what he had spoken, I  told him it was fals, and he said a prisoner 〈…〉 it, and I  told him, the milk I carried myself, that was no●●●●●ed to him, but to two country friends that were to watch with him at night, I  told him that the thing it was carried in held not above a pint & half at the most. And then the Coroner bid me speak of it what I knew, I  told him that he did eat a little of the thin of it & some I did eat, and the rest I carried home again, for they that did watch had eaten before. Then the Jury  told me that they would believe what I said to be true. Then the Coroner as'kd them what Verdict they would give in, & some of them said among themselves, that he dyed clear, them that differed from them( the fore-man being one of them) were of those formerly called Brownists & are enemies to the truth, & they said they would have until the next morning to consider of it, & the other said they were poor men, they would not loose their time, but would make an end of it then, and there they stood jangling together about their time; then the two said they would have half a day longer, but the other would not allow of it but would then end it; then they pleaded for three hours, & they said they would not stay three hours about it, for they had business to do. The Coroner bid them agree before they went, then they said they would have half an hours liberty to which all agreed, the Coroner  told them if they would have other Witnesses, he would sand for them, but there was none desired, nor none sent for. Now these two went away from the rest, and said that they would come again in half an hour, they stayed somewhat more, and came again, I was there and Anne all this time; so the Jury met together in another room, and in a quarter of an hour they came into the C●urt, so called, and the Coroner asked them if they were agreed now, and they said yes, and the fore-man gave in his Verdict, That we find that this James parnel is guilty of his own death, by wilful abstaining from food when he might have had ●t, and by lying out of his bed, whereby he got could, and so wilfully starved himself to de●th; & to this they agreed, and took it in. Then I bid them be ashamed of what they had done; first you give in that he is guilty of his own death by eating too much, and now you say he is guilty of his own death by starving himself, & here you are in confusion; and  told the two sepa●ates as they are 〈…〉 t their envy had not long to continue to him, that they 〈◇〉 ●nvious to the life, and now were envious to the creature and that all might see their conf●sio●, and so I past away, as to that concerning the Jaylor, the Ju●y deny that.  
Colchest. 12 day, 3 Month, 1656.  
Since the writing of this, I and Anne Langley, and another frie●d went to Henry Barrington, called Justice, that sent the letter up to Maidstone at Whitehall, and shewed him it was in the Pamphlet and asked him if he would own that, and he said, did I think that he made Books? I asked him if that were not his letter? he said, what then? I  told him that there was untruths in it, and I asked him whether he would own them? he said, then you have the more wrong; I  told him I should not suffer the wrong, the truth cleared itself, they should suffer the wrong that writ it; he said he writ nothing but what he had from Joseph Smiths mouth, who was one of the two before writ of. I  told him I had shewed it to Joseph, and he denied it as is writ above, and I  told him that I met with the fore-man, and red it to him, and he said fie, fie, as before, and he still said he writ nothing but what he had from Smiths mouth; he was up with high words in his will, and said he would give his estate if they did not own what he writ; so I  told him that he must bear it himself, and he said if they would lay it upon him, then he said he must. As to that Concerning the gaoler, this Hen. Barrington saith he put that in himself, because there was a Letter he said at Whitehall, which was put in by one Davis, which said that the gaoler by his usage was guilty of James his death; I  told him I could not excuse the gaoler of what I had formerly declared against him, for I  told him I would not eat in my words again of what I writ in a Letter, and put up to the Judge at the Assize.  
Thomas Shortland.  
NOw this being Thomas Shortlands hand whom they say is their chief Evidence, and that which he will own for truth, it may easily be seen with any who in honesty, doth but Compare their Lettters, Books, and Ballads with this Testimony of Thomas Shortland and his wife, and Anne Langley, by what Spirit they are acted, who sent forth these lies, using Thomas Shortland for a pretence who denies their lies, and so doth Anne Langley, which was the woman that waited upon him which it seems they took for Thomas Shortlands wife whom they examined with Thomas Shortland; and now let the least simplicity Judge what truth there is in these peoples Relation; And also what ground they have to accuse this Man for being guilty of his own death, when all means possible hath been used( except what was sinful) to preserve his health, both by him, and his friends, but could never prevail with that persecuting Spirit to show pitty to the oppressed, and now what remaines in sight to this generation, but the like reproach and slander to the rest that yet remain in the like sufferings, as they Come to finish their Testimony, for what Innocency is there can escape the slanderous tongue of persecution, the Innocency of Christ himself could not do it, neither while he lived, nor after he was dead; Nor would that Spirit want subtlety so to cover the blood of such as have dyed in other prisons Innocently, were their blood inquired after.  
And whereas you slander these Quakers in your books that we have received our principle from Rome, It is no more but what we look for, both to suffer in deeds and words, but would God your eyes were open to see from queen Mary through the Bishops to yourselves, and so see your own works from Rome, and how fitt a Popish Law fits your hand and your day and let that of God in your Conscience, and all honest people Judge, whose work is from Rome, and your strength you work it by, surely were we Papists we should not suffer by a Popish Law as now we do, nor were we thus used till we was lead to testify against the relics of Popery. And you who say you are the chief Magistrates of Colchester, and desire it to be made public, accuseing James parnel to wilfully starve himself. Our desire is that you were clear of his blood, in the sight of God, but this way you have taken is but to add more guilt upon yourselves, and place, and so you will find when God comes to visit for these things; then woe to such who have covered yourselves, but not with Gods Spirit, but have made lies their refuge, then your bed will be to narrow, you must not then be both accusers and executors. It had been good you had prepared your hearts towards that day in stead of sending out your Books and Ballads, which will appear what they are at that day, when truth must not be shut in a corner; and until then we refer our cause both in this and the rest of what we have and must suffer from this generation. Onely using what means God leads us too to prevent such as are simplo from being drawn into these Errors of the wicked, to partake with you in these profane things you have published, or for making merry over Innocent blood, or rejoicing in oppression.  
And whereas you Charge him as a heinous Crime for which he was committed, and in your Pamphlet tells of an act by which he was Committed; take the testimony of these men following, and by that the simplo may see his Crime, and what Law he broken.  
Wee do here testify that James parnel went in peaceably into the Parish Church( so called) of great Cogshall, and there stood still and spoken not one word until he called Minister had done preaching and praying, and was coming out of his seat, and then there was many words spoken, which are declared at large in the book called the Fruits of a fast. And James passed out and many people thronged after him, whom James knew not, and passing down the street towards his friends house not speaking any words; he who is called Justice Wakering came rushing after him, and overtooke him in the street, who smote him on the back, and said, I arrest thee in the name of the Lord Protector: Then James asked him where was his writ; Then he called Justice Wakering said he had one but shewed it not; So he caused him to go to a house not far off, to be forth coming from thence when he called Justice should come back from their worship at their Steeple-house, which was done according to his appointment. Then Justice Wakering came and three Justices more with him, who are called Farbutt Pellam, Tho: cook, William Farlackinden, who examined him, to which Questions James answered, and when they had done they caused a Mittimus to be made and all four of them signed it, and sent him to Colchester Castle to be detained till the next Assizes, which was held at Chelmsford for the County of Essex.  
Witnesses to the truth of this, 

Robert Ludguter.  
Tho: Creeke.  
John child.  
Rich: Norton.  
Robert Adams.  
Tho: Sparrow.  
Will: Broman.  
Zach: child.  
Sam: Stilingham.  
John Isacke.  
Will: Bunting.    
And whereas it is reported that the one Twenty marks he was fined for breach of Maryes statute at Halsted; you may take the testimony of the truth as followeth touching that thing also.  

From Halsted.  
Whereas James parnel was fined Twenty marks for making, as they say, a disturbance in the parish Church in Halsted, in the time of the assembly of the Ministers and Parishioners in the exercise( as they say) of Divine Ordinances, which is false, for he came into the place peaceably, and there stood and spake not until he called Minister had done preaching and praying.  
To this wee witness; 

John coat.  
Tho: Gandye.  
Francis Hanwick.     
And now what his offence was let honesty Judge, for which he paid so dear a ransom, and for which he is counted so great an offender, and see if these be Christians who thus torment a man f●r speaking truth in soberness to them, when they have done, when the Scripture Commands the first to hold his peace, if any thing be revealed to another that stands by, but he did not speak till the first had done; Nay did he here so much as break the Popish Law, made by Mary, let them that know the Law, and are just Judge thereof, and see what Justice he had from these called Christians. And now you who to Cover this your unchristian dealing have devised subtle ways, by false reports and sending out your feigned Books and Balads, licensed as you say by order, by which you make sport for the licentious profane ones, and encourage other bloody persecutors, who have long waited for blood, and have thirsted after it as the wolf for his prey, and all sorts of people to whom your books or ballads doth come, to them you have piped that they may dance thereto, and you have given knowledge to all both Civill and profane, of what value the sufferings of the innocent are to you, and that they may partake with you in your mirth, and so join with you to clear the wicked and accuse the innocent; and now you think you have hide yourselves, and wiped off all the guilt that can be imputed to you But shall this your counsel stand before the righteous Judge, in whose sight the death of all his are precious, and which he strictly will inquire after? Shall it not then appear that instead of Covering your sin, you will be found guilty of all this profaneness that is occasioned throughout the world, through sending out your books and songs made up of deceit, and this will you find at that day to be a Cursed Cover and you Cursed who have put it on, in opposition to the truth? O blind people who are grown against the Lord till you make a mock of sin, and drink iniquity with desire, who are rakeing all you can true or false from whom ever you can, from people drunk or distracted, or unclean, or how ever possessed with the devil the father of lies; and this you embrace as a prise for your purpose, that you may cast it upon the Children of light, who have none to pled their cause upon earth; and if any by the light be so convinced that they come to confess thereto and then through disobedience draw back again, such a Child of Belial who hath gainesayed the truth, serves you for an informer to raise up a heap of wickedness to cast upon the truth, though we neither own him nor his practise; and thus you are fighting against the Lords appearance, armeing yourselves with the Devills instruments. O vain people, will these things cover you? what a garment is this you are putting on, will it cover your own wickedness who thus rejoice in iniquity? will this heap of lies you have sent forth Cover all the blood of this man and others, who have dyed in prisons these late yeares, who have been cast in for Conscience sake, and there have laid till the Lord hath ransomed them by taking them to himself, and the many numbers of innocent ones, who have been and are cast into stinking dark holes, such as you would not put your doggs in, and such as were it not the mighty power of God which preserves that all shall not be destroyed, it were impossible that any creature should live for such long time as some have been in whole yeares without either fire or air in winter or summer; the like having never been seen or heard since this was a Nation, and this is known without pity or any hope of help as from man; and such penalties for no offences as hath not been heard of, as some have been taken up for wandring beggars, who did never ask any thing of any, and being so committed have been fined one or two hundred pounds, and put in a hole till payment. Now how a beggar should redeem his life with such a sum, and whether the life was not like to be the ransom sooner or later let any one weigh and judge. And this James parnel who was fined twice twenty marks, and no breach of Law proved against him, and he shut up in a hole till payment, and so used as before mentioned, whether there was like to be any other thing no redeem his liberty but death sooner or later, all that knew the man and the place he was in may easily Judge. And how often some who are in authority was informed of his weakness, and that he could not live long unless he had some liberty & air, they are not ignorant which is now the peace of many of us that we was not wanting of our duty to inform them thereof, and lay it before them, that being all we could do therein and not sin; and often had they heard thereof had they not some of them turned their faces from the crys of the oppressed, which now is our desires to God that it might not be charged upon them and the Nation, which assuredly will be sooner or later if not repented of. And surely this is little token of sorrow that after this barbarous usage and this effect thereof to accuse the man for making away himself, when as there was never so much means used and so many complaints made for any one prisoner, both by himself and other friends to have saved Innocent blood as was concerning him, and this some knows very well who are in no little power in the Nation, and most like to have procured liberty in that case he was in, even as long as there was any hope of life this was done. And now after all this to turn it into a lie to cover you with, and into songs to make you merry with, and so not onely to make him the object of cruelty unto death, but also an object of your sport and a scorn to fools, and( what in you lies) a reproach to all the rest of the Children of light now after his death, who are many of them in the like sufferings among you, if you have dealt like Christians herein, or do as you would be done unto, then it will be well with you in the day of righteous Judgement, when not onely innocent blood but all the imprisonments of Christ Jesus, and who have cast him in, yea who have visitted him and who have not must be inquired into as God hath seen it and not as men make excuses, which in tender love to your souls we wish you consider of, and with the light of Christ onely to examine your hearts herein, that you may see your state now as it will be found then with the same light at that day, for till that day do we refer our cause herein, having none now amongst men who will pled our cause, nor make enquiry for our bloody and cruel sufferings, both of bodies and the spoiling of our goods which we joyfully suffer for the Lords sake, knowing that we are his with all we have, nor do we murmur thereat, neither here should we have mentioned it, had it not been to oppose lies, and clear the truth thereof, and keep such clear who are not yet guilty, who might be deceived therewith. Though our sufferings at this time be such as it will appear when it is brought to light( as it must sooner or later, for it must not always be thus hide) that the sufferings of our bodies and estates for Conscience sake in these three last yeares of the Lords appearance, such a number of sufferings, and for such things, As threescore yeares last past of the tyrannicall Kings and bloody Bishops, and their perfection is far short of. And this will one day appear to your confusion who now makes it your sport and your songs, and may say of all the rest as of Ja: parnel that they have done it to themselves. As which of the Saints was not both sufferers and offenders in the eyes of those who hated them and in their generation, but will not be found so in the eyes of God, nor the generations to come, when the Lambs testimony is finished in sufferings and the kingdom come, and the wicked bloody man scattered from the face of the earth. Then shall the even balance be seen, and the cause of the poor weighed therein, though to you who are in this scornful envious nature, there must be stumbling blocks that you who will not own the light may be more blind, so that the further you go on in persecution the more ignorant you may be of him you persecute, least you should see what you are doing and repent and be healed, for did you know what you are doing, you would not add iniquity unto sin to cover it. Oh foolish people, is there none of you can see and consider this once in your hearts, was not persecution ever blind, and is it like you should see, who exceed therein? will you despise the poor, and trample upon the Innocent, and slay the Just, and make you sport therewith, and say you see, and it is them that thus suffer with patience that is deluded? Suppose it was so, Is not that an unclean Spirit that can make sport therewith, or take delight to lay open others nakedness for a corrupt end against the truth? who would have thought ever to have seen such things as these to have been suffered to be sung in our streets, but much more to see them licensed by order? surely a lamentation is for you till you return, how are the mighty fallen, and iniquity hath taken place above equity? and so you are returned to the base sort to gratify the abominable thing in them, and your hearts are made merry with lies, but the hearts of such are made sad therewith whom God hath not made sad, who sees the evil that is before you, and you going into it without fear, though such have no cause to mourn for themselves.  
And whereas you do this for clearing yourselves; our hearts desire is that you was clear before God, and that no evil might come upon you touching him or any other of us, but we are troubled for you to see you take this way to clear yourselves, whereby you bring a double guilt upon yourselves, and even whilst you are about this work many more lie still in holes abused by tyrants in the like manner, which will be added to the rest, if not repented off with speed, then it will be more seen that you have more desire to clear yourselves from the guilt before men, than from the act before God.  
Will sending out your Books and singing your ballads filled with lies, clear this nation of the blood of the Innocent lambs of God which hath been  shed in this nation, whole blood cries though they have not opened their mouths; as that bloody thing acted upon one at Mendlsham, whipping him the like hath not been heard of, as the Country sounds of to this day. Also others taken out of the meeting where they was worshipping the Lord, and sent to prison where they have been most bloodily whipped, without the least show of any Law broken, or one word spoken, witness Thomas Stubs at Northampton, with divers others that might be mentioned, too many to mention who have been whipped. Will these things satisfy for the many whose lives have been their ransom out of your prisons. As them who dyed in prison at york, at Lancaster, one carried out in a basket at bristol, which had been bruised in a Steeple-house and sent to prison, never recovered till death, but dyed about three dayes after she was carried out; one at Apleby kept above a year in a hole without any fire at all, under a cruel tyrant who did often beate them, having eight of them in a hole: Rich: Hebson never had health after till he dyed at Northampton; one went out sick and is dead; with divers others who are yet in holes like to perish, and others who have lost their health and strength outward, who are released: nay the cruelty of this age is not to be parelleled; and do you think to Cover all this with your profane songs and lies? Is all this hide from the Lord God, because you have blinded your own eyes, and shut your ears against the cries of the Innocent, and hardened your hearts against mercy? nay is not this the time for God to take notice of the poor, who are made a prey to the proud, & none to pled their cause on earth, and to avenge their blood, and yet you will not fear him, but add iniquity to sin. And how you are hardening yourselves in further persecution( such as scarce can be believed in this age) even while you are seeking to clear yourselves of what is past; Let this Relation following give a taste, beside much more such barbarous usage in many other places as hath not been heard off, where the Souldiers have come into the Saints meetings, R●d through them with their horses, trampled them under their feet, run their swords through their arms, bailed them out one by one, and set their Pistols to their mouths, and swore God dam them, there they should die, if they did not deny their Religion; with a numberless numbe● of such cruelties we daily suffer, and if Complaint be to such as should judge our cause justly, and hear both parties, we are not believed what we say, but the repo●ts are made and believed from our persecutors, who cover the Saints blood with lies after this manner. And so that which should be made use on to punish the evil doers, is turned to harden them in their cruelty; so that now itis become as a proverb cast in our faces as we pass on the streets; If we kill a Quaker, there is no law for them, yet are we in peace, and so made able with joy to finish our testimony, against this generation, till our case be pleaded by Him who dispises not the poor, neither respects the person of the proud, when your songs and our sufferings, must be judged, and the ground of them, hear this all you whose mirth consists in your brethrens misery.  
The relation concerning Justice Crook and the rest in short is as followeth.  

A Relation of the taking and imprisoning of William lovel, John Crooke, John Sam, and Tho: Stubs, upon the 26th day of the third month called May. 1656.  
THere being divers honest people met together at William lovel his house at Hardingstone in the county of Northampton, to wait upon the Lord, and as they were met peaceably and quietly together in a Close of the said William lovel( being his freehold) in the way and worship of the living God, and when they had sate and waited upon the Lord a while; then Tho: Stubbs being moved to stand up to speak the pure word of the Lord to the people, after he had continued speaking about a quarter of an hour, the people being all still and attentive; there came in one called captain Pinkerd and divers horsemen of the county troope with swords and pistols, who called to fetch him away that was speaking; then William lovel, owner of the said house and ground went to the abovesaid captain, and asked him to see his authority for his coming upon his freehold, to disturb those that were met peaceably to worship the Lord, which the captain refused to show; but asked the said William lovel if he owned this meeting; whereunto William lovel replied, Yea, I do; then the said captain commanded his Souldiers to take him prisoner, which immediately they did: Whereupon John Crooke asked the captain if he had any warrant or order for what he did; whereunto the captain replied, that mayor general Butler had given him an order to disperse this meeting; whereupon John Crooke  told him, he would go with him to mayor general Butler( if he would) The captain replied he was at London; John Crooke desired him to let him see his order if he had any; he replied he would not. John Crooke  told him if he would show us any order, he believed there was none, but would obey it. And he the said John Crooke would use his best endeavour to persuade them to obedience, for we are subject to authority for Conscience sake, and it is but equal and just for a man to know by what au●horitie he is imprisoned; and his saying he had an Order was no more than if another should say so, one mans affirmation being as strong as another, therefore it is but reason that it should be shewed; but he said, he would not show it, and so commanded his Souldiers to take him the said John Crooke into Custody, which immediately they did. Then the said John Crooke asked the captain oftentimes what offence he had committed; at the last he replied it was for meeting in a tumultuous manner; Then John Sam standing by replied to the Captaines words; that wee were not met together in a tumultuous manner, but in the fear of the Lord, and that he the said captain had that in his Conscience that witnessed that we are a people principled against tumults, or to take up any carnal weapon for to oppose or make disturbance; whereupon the said captain commanded his Souldiers to take John Sam prisoner, which immediately they did; then the said John Sam asked the captain what offence he had committed, that the people might know what he had done, but the captain would give no answer, but bad his Souldiers take him away, take him away. And then the said captain commanded a soldier to take hold upon Tho: Stubbs as he was exhorting the people to obey the commands of the Lord Jesus Christ; then a soldier rid in among the people and violently haled him forth from the meeting place, and took him prisoner, and then Thomas Stubbs began to red some laws unto the Souldiers concerning the protection of religion and peaceable people, and the repealing of all other laws to the contrary, which the Protector hath taken an oath to maintain; then one of the Souldiers tore it out of his hand, permitting him not to read it, then some words being spoken against the rudeness of their carriage, which made them confess that they were ignorant of what they did,( and also here is to be observed, that the said Thomas Stubbs was late before released from the County Gaole of Northampton, where he was whipped, nothing being laid to his Charge, and therefore when the Sessions came they did not call him at all, but within two dayes after the Sessions was ended sent him forth of the town, and said he might go whither he would, yer notwithstanding, this liberty these took him from Hardingstone, whither before they  told him he might go.) The captain continuing riding up and down upon a fat praunsing kicking horse, kicking some down threatening the people what he would do if they would not depart and be gone. And afterwards the captain commanded the Souldiers to draw into a body, and so commanded the said William lovel from his dwelling house and freehold, and the rest of the prisoners above-named, and carried them into the fields out of the town, where he commanded his Souldiers to guard them as if they had been Rogues and felons, and there continued them in the field some houres, whilst the captain went to the Priests house of the town, where were several Priests met, and after they had feasted and consulted together, as appeared to Robert Rich and John Rush and John Elyott, who went to the Priests house to speak with the captain, and asking for him, one came forth, and  told them, that he was at dinner, and that he would be dismissed presently; in the mean while William Dewsbury the servant of the Lord cam● to Hardingstone to the meeting amongst the Lords people, and there was moved to speak the word of the Lord unto them; then came the Souldiers and took him prisoner, when he was speaking as aforesaid, and carried him to the rest of the prisoners; about an hour after the captain came from the Priests house, and commanded the Souldiers to carry the prisoners along to Master Snart, as he called him, to the common Gaole at Northampton. And as the prisoners were going along the captain bade a soldier to let William Dewsbury go; afterwards William Dewsbury went amongst the Lords people again, and as he was praying to the Lord, six of the rude Souldiers came there, and two of them when the people were kneeled down, rushed in amongst them, and rid over some with their horses, and one of them laid violent hands upon William Dewsbury, and pulled him away as he was at prayer, and said he would disturb him, and afterwards when the Souldiers had broken the Law, and made a disturbance, and kept him a while prisoner, yet after all this let him go, and said they had nothing to say to him. And as the prisoners aforesaid were guarded by divers Souldiers as Rogues and felons to the Common Gaole of Northampton, the prisoners asked the captain by virtue of what order the jailer was to receive them, whether any other then verbal, he replied, nay, that was sufficient; and they came to the Gaole aforesaid; one of the prisoners demanded of the Jaoler when he opened the door to take them in, if he had any Mittimus to receive them, and he said if they would come in he would receive them; the said prisoners replied, they would not commit themselves; so the captain seeing the jailer would not take them except they would go in themselves, commanded his Souldiers to put them in by violence; whereupon one of the prisoners again d●manded to see their Mittimus, that so they might know what offence was laid against them; the captain  told one of them, that he should see it, but none else, but did not as he said, but commanded his Souldiers to put them in by force, which was done accordingly; Then the prisoners demanded their liberty of the jailer before divers witnesses, knowing that they had not transgressed any law, neither were they carried before any civill Magistrate to be examined, but were committed by Souldiers contrary to Law, and the jailer  told them, that by virtue of an order from captain Pinkerd onely he received them and kept them prisoners; then the prisoners replied, that he being the keeper of the Common Gaole for the County, ought to receive none into his Gaole but such as were committed by some Judge upon record; Yet notwithstanding the jailer continueth them prisoners in the low Gaole, where thieves and murtherers are kept, and denied their wives and children and friends to visit them, contrary to the Law of God and the Nation.  
From the Common Gaole in Northampton the 27th day of the 3d month, from them who of the world are scornfully called Quakers.   

Here also followeth a Relation of the taking and imprisoning of Thomas Goodaire.  
Upon the 25th day of the 3d month called May, being the first day of the week, Thomas Goodaire being at a friends house in a town called Old in Northampton-shire, where the people of God were met together peaceably to wait upon God, and to worship him in spirit and in truth, the said Thomas Goodaire being moved of the Lord to speak amongst those people in the way of exhortation to depart from evil, and to follow that which was good, and as he was speaking in the meeting amongst the people, there came in two Constables with a Warrant from John brown and John Mansell, in Commission to do Justice, and laid violent hands upon him, a●d said they had an order from the Justices to do what they d●d, and so they haled him forth from amongst the people, and had him before John brown and John Mansell, who came some m●les distance from their own dwellings unto the aforesaid Old to the Priests house that day on purpose to take the said Tho: Goodaire, by which means their own public worship of the said Tow●e of Old was neglected in the afternoon, for the Priest of the town and the aforesaid called Justices spent most part of the time in examining of Tho: Goodaire and others that were at the meeting, charging the said Thomas to be a dangerous person and a misleader of the sect called Quakers, and therefore demanded Sureties for his good behaviour. Which he refused, except they would show him what Law he had broken, which they would not do, but replied they were Judges of the Law, and forthwith made a Mittimus to sand him to the Common Gaole in Northampton, where he now remaineth a prisoner. And for other friends that were at the meeting waiting upon the Lord, the aforesaid called Justices sent for them to come into the Priests house, and demanded of each of them ten shillings, for breach of the Sabbath, which they denied to pay, except the aforesaid called Justices would show them what Law they had broken, which ●hey did not, but on the contrary threatened to distrain their goods; all which is directly contrary both to the Law of God, and to the known and established laws of this Nation.  
From the C●mmon Gaole in Northampton the 27th day of the 3d month, from them who of the world are scornfully called Quakers.   

HEre is also a relation of the present unjust sufferings of Tho: Jobson and William Holmes now prisoners in Cambridge, fined twenty pounds & close prisoners till payment, their wives and children denied to come to them. Who suffer under a pretence of entertaining Ranters, but denies all Ranters and their filthy practices, and owns the doctrine of Christ, which is to entertain strangers, and for the entertaining of some of those people called Quakers, they thus suffer by that murderous envious spirit, who will neither own the doctrine of Christ themselves, nor suffer others. A miserable Liberty and Protection that after these men have fought for their liberty against tyranny, should now by the same malignant spirit thus suffer but for entertaining their own friends into their own houses, who are troublesone to none; neither can the Law accuse them of any misbehaviour; And now seeing these men cannot for Conscience sake serve the wills of these Enemies of Christ to pay them these unjust sums of money for obeying the doctrine of Christ, and so Consent that wickedness be set up by a Law▪ & the Commands of the Lord Jesus Christ thrust out,( which they cannot do, but deny Christ to save themselves) Let every honest man see and consider what is like to be the ransom of these men, sooner or later, if not their lives, being cast into a hole amongst felons and murderers, and Condemned persons, and such like, whose envy is no less against them than the same spirit that Casts them in, and so they suffer by both, and must do until the Lord release them, and when the lives of these comes to be sacrificed up with others of their brethren, it is not like that the murderer will confess guilty, if a lying book or a ballad may excuse him, for the liar and the murderer is one.  
Also miles Bareman, a man of repute in the world, who being moved of the Lord to go a hundred miles or more to visit two of his friends who were prisoners in the town of Staff●rd, was taken in that town, and by the Mayor committed to prison, and was twice whipped in the pr●son, and much other hard usage; and this was done without the transgression of any Law, but onely by the envy of the wicked one, who pe●secutes the seed of God, where ever it is brought forth. Also miles Wenington, who being moved to visit his friend the said prisoner in that town, and going to the Mayor and asking him in soberness, what he had committed his said friend to prison for, was himself sent to prison by the Mayor, and cast into the dungeo●, and there was whipped in like manner, contrary to Justice, or mercy, or civility, or natural affection, and many such like torters are and have been inflicted upon the innocent by barbarous brutish men, who are entrusted in authority, by which many have been brought to their death; some of which, having been related to them who should remed, such things, the Complaints could never be believed, neither doth it serve that these things are related, but to leave the Nation without excuse; for men hearts are grown void of pi●ty, yet do we know where mercy is, and on him we wai●e in the deep●st sufferings.   

A Relation concerning Dorothy Waughs cruel usage by the Mayor of carlisle.  
UPon the 7th day about the time called Michaelmas in the year of the worlds account 1655. I was moved of the Lord to go into the market of carlisle, to speak against all deceit & ungodly practices, and the Mayors Officer came and violently haled me off the cross, and put me in prison, not having any thing to lay to my Charge, and presently the Mayor came up where I was, and asked me from whence I came; and I said cut of Egypt where thou lodgest; But after these words, he was so violent & full of passion he scarce asked me any more Questions, but called to one of his followers to bring the bridle, as he called it to put upon me, and was to be on three houres, and that which they called so was like a steel cap and my hat being violently plucked off, which was pinned to my head, whereby they tare my Clothes to put on their bridle as they called it, which was a ston weight of Iron by the relation of their own Generation, & three bars of Iron to come over my face, and a piece of it was put in my mouth, which was so unreasonable big a thing for that place as cannot be well related, which was locked to my head, and so I stood their time with my hands bound behind me with the ston weight of Iron upon my head, and the bit in my mouth to keep me from speaki●g, And the Mayor said he would make me an Example to all that should ever come in that name. And the people to see me so violently abused were broken into tears, but he cried out on them and said, for foolish piety, one may spoil a whole city. And the man that kept the prison-doore demanded two-pence of every one that came to see me while their bridle remained upon me; Afterwards it was taken off and they kept me in prison for a little season, and after a while the Mayor came up again and caused it to be put on again, and sent me out of the city with it on, and gave me very vile and unsavoury words, which were not fit to proceed out of any mans mouth, and charged the Officer to whip me out of the town, from Constable to Constable to sand me, till I came to my own home, when as they had not any thing to lay to my Charge.  
D. W.    

And all these things are but a taste of the whole, inflicted upon the body of Christ in this Nation, whom he hath made conformable to himself to undergo the envy of the wicked, till death, and after their death they are not satisfied, neither was they upon him, who gave large money to raise lies upon him, when their envy could reach no further, and it is enough that his servants be as their Lord; for which of all the members of Christ have not suffered by this generation of men that live in their lusts, yet herein we rejoice that his peace is with us, and that we are justified in his sight not to suffer as evil doers, though in the sight of men we be so accounted.   
FINIS.